Corruption pervasive at customs departments: ACCI

KABUL Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) officials on Wednesday claimed corruption was pervasive at customs departments and that government posts were being sold against payments.

“We have received this information from customs officials, who told us that were appointed to government positions against heavy payments,” Khan Jan Alokozai, deputy ACCI director, told a gathering discussing reforms in financial system at Kabul University.

“There are 12 government organs at customs departments, all of them rife with graft,” he claimed.

“These officials tell traders, whether you import bombs, explosive vests, whatever you do, just give us money because they have bought the post for $20,000 (977,800 afghanis),” Alokozai, said, adding the problems was badly affecting consumers.

Mohammad Kamal, a parliamentarian from northern Kunduz, told the gathering that the main reason behind the selling of government posts was widespread corruption.

However, the finance ministry rejected the claim that government posts were being sold against payments.

The ministry spokesman Aziz Shams acknowledged corruption in customs department, but denied the posts had been sold. “Some people make such claims for their personal interests,” he said.

He said if there was any evidence showing the posts had been sold, it should be shared with the ministry. Shams also accused some traders of promoting corruption.

“Most of traders having illegal documents pay bribes to officials,” he said.

frm/ma