Nangarhar prison, customs chiefs being referred to attorneys

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Wolesi Jirga’s Central Audit Commission members on Monday said the directors of the central jail of eastern Nangarhar province and Torkham customs office were being referred to the attorney office along with 24 other officers on graft charges.

Shahpoor Khan Hasanzaoi, head of a delegation of the Central Audit Commission that investigated corruption in nine organs made the announcement in Jalalabad.

A member of the team and lawmaker, Mohammad Ibrahim Ghashtali, said their investigation about corruption in Nangarhar prison and Torkham customs had been completed.

“The high tonnage scale provided by the Ministry of Finance and bought on millions of afghanis has not been installed despite having no legal issue, many imports are not taxed as well as 70 percent of equipment in the port’s warehouse have destroyed,” he said.

He added that scanning machines brought for the port had also been not installed in order to continue corruption.

On the other hand, Ghashtali said prison terms of a number of inmates in Nangarhar jail had ended, but they were yet to be released. He said drugs were openly sold in the jail amid lack of health services and required food for inmates.

He said general director of Nangarhar prison, Col. Mohammad Shafiq and eight officers of the prison were being referred to the attorney office over the mentioned issues.

He said Rohullah Nazari, director of Torkham customs along with 16 officers of the office were also being referred to attorney office.

Head of the delegation, Shahpoor Khan Hassanzoi, said it was their responsibility to investigate the cases and share them with the attorney office and it was now the job of prosecutors to neutrally follow the cases and bring those guilty to justice.

He said their investigation in Jalalabad municipality, canal and transport departments was also underway.

Nangarhar governor, Ziaulhaq Amarkhel, welcomed investigation by the Wolesi Jirga team and said all organs would be investigated for corruption issues.

Around 10 months back, the Ministry of Interior arrested 10 officers of Torkham customs over graft charges.

mds/ma

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