MoD officials suspended on graft charges

KABUL (Pajhwok): Two officers at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have been suspended and barred from leaving the country following $215 million embezzlement in oil procurement contract with a foreign firm, the Presidential spokesman said on Sunday.

“President Mohammad Ashraf, accompanied by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah, NATO commanders and officials of Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), supervised the investigation of seven oil contracts for the MoD,” Nazifullah Salarzai said.

The president found $215 million fraud in one of the contracts, he said, adding the company that signed the deal later failed to ensure implementation.

Earlier, the issue of misappropriation was brought into the notice of the presidency by NATO and SIGAR officials.  A case had also been filed with the department concerned, he added.

Ghani has assigned a commission to probe graft issues in other contracts. He had also ordered the suspension of the current contracts and advised new bidding, according to Salarzai.

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