3 sentenced to jail over corruption in mosque construction

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The appellate court of eastern Nangarhar province on Tuesday fined the head of a Construction Company and sentenced three other individuals to six months of jail over corruption in building the Spin Jumat Mosque in the provincial capital.

According to a statement from Nangarhar appellate court received by Pajhwok Afghan News, the decision was made in an open trial attended by the court’s head, Abdul Wali Qazizada.

The source said that the judiciary delegation handed down the verdict in presence of both sides of the cases.

The owner of the construction company tasked for building Spin Jumat Mosque confirmed he was in debt to a number people and promised to give that money to their owners, the statement added.

However, the source said it was not final decision of the appellate court and the individuals accused can request for changes.

Dr Haneef Hashimi Provincial coordinator of Integrity watch Afghanistan, said that the embezzlement in Spin Jumat Mosque was a serious issue.

He said that he most of the times watched courts’ meetings; however, he did not provide more details about the appellate court’s trial.

Another civil society activist, Niamatullah Hamdard, said the convicts should be charged with more jail terms and cash fine.

Calling the appellate court action a positive decision, he said the government needed to provide more information about embezzlement in the Spin Jumat Mosque construction.

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