Graft-tainted Ghor officials introduced to court

FEROZKOH (Pajhwok): The attorney’s office of western Ghor province has referred to a local court the cases of 10 provincial officials including the deputy governor accused of corruption, an official said on Tuesday.

Former governor Seema Joyinda in November, 2015 had introduced deputy governor Mohammad Amin Tokhi, finance department director Mohammad Paiman, revenue director Mohammad Yousuf Daniar and procurement head Taj Mohammad to the attorney’s office over their alleged involvement in corruption in five construction projects at the police headquarters.

The attorney’s office banned the accused from travelling out of Ghor until their cases were fully investigated.

The appellant attorney’s office said another six officials including managers of the procurement, the crime branch, police headquarters, revenue office and urban development department were also involved in the embezzlement.

Attorney’s office deputy head Abdul Momin Nasrat told Pajhwok Afghan News they summoned all of the accused to the attorney’s office, but only three of them including managers of revenue, urban development and crime branch turned up.

He said those refusing to appear before the attorney’s office had violated the law and it meant they had no respect for government rules.

However, Mohammad Amin Tokhi said he did not accept the attorney office’s allegations against him, thus he rejected his summoning.

He said the embezzlement allegation against him was baseless and he had previously asked for a delegation from the central government to assess the issue.

Tokhi added he had approached the attorney’s office to defend himself, but he believed the office was not impartial and had links with the former governor.

The deputy governor in the past too had rejected allegations against him and had said the projects mentioned were scheduled to be implemented in mid-2016. He had said contracts for the projects were yet to be signed and budget yet to be specified.

Zolqarnain, a member of Ghor urban court, confirmed the cases of the 10 individuals were referred to the court on Tuesday and would be processed. “We decisively address cases no matter who the accused are,” he said.

A civil society activist Mohammad Wazir Noorani said judicial organs should equally treat all individuals.

The former Ghor governor has recently been appointed as deputy governor of capital Kabul.

mds/ma

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