6 customs officials hired on fake signs, bribe

KABUL’s complaints hearing commission on Sunday said fake signs and bribe were used to appoint six heads and their deputies at customs offices.

The Senate on Sunday summoned acting Finance Minister Hamyun Qaiumi about the issue and the selling of land belonging to the Markaz-i-Selo, Ministry of Agriculture.

But the acting minister did not provide convincing answer to the senators.

The commission head, Zalmay Zabuli, told today’s session that four heads and a deputy and director of customs departments had been appointed based on fake signatures of Ministry of Finance against bribe taken by MoF chief of staff Muqbil Ahmad.

He said Abdul Fatih had been appointed against $ 240,000 as Nimroz customs department head, Abdullah Shirzai against $250,000 as Herat customs department head, Ali Hakimi against $150,000 as director of Islam Qala of Herat, Mahboob appointed against $150,000 as Kunduz customs department head.

He did not mention of the remaining two individuals but said deputy director of Nimroz customs department had been appointed against $50,000 and Farah customs department’s head against $150,000

Acting Finance Minister said he had introduced his office’s chief to the Attorney Office regarding the issue.

Pajhwok tried to seek comment of the six heads but only Nimroz customs department head Abdul Fatih said he had been appointed after passing an exam and based on the president decree and after an interview.

He said he has been severing as Nimroz customs department head for the past one year and asked how it was possible that he had been appointed based on fake signature.

Zabuli said head of law enforcement at MoF, Kabul customs department head, internal inspection department head at MoF, Khost customs department head and Balkh customs department head were also not qualified for the posts. He said theses five people had been appointed with fake documents.

However, acting finance minister promised that documents of these individuals would be also investigated.

Zabuli said Khan Mohammad Danishjo, financial and administrative   chief of MoF, was also summoned over owing 70 million to the government.

He said Danishjo had taken the money when he was the youths’ association head and he had been introduced to the Senate complaints commission based on the National Directorate of Security (NDS) letter.

Zabuli also urged details about Markaz-i-Selo, RRA and American University in Afghanistan lands.

pk/ma