KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): The Afghan National Army’s 215th Maiwand Military Corps sentenced a soldier in a fake court marshal and savagely thrashed him in southern Helmand province, relatives of the victim say.
The soldier, Lt. Noor Rahman, is currently serving in the 215th Maiwand Military Corps.
Family members of the soldier had complained to the Presidential Palace and the National Security Council for investigation into the case.
Dr. Abdul Rahim Rahimi, uncle of Noor Rahman, told Pajhwok Afghan News that his nephew had served in various areas since the last few years and now he was a trainer in the corps training center in Helmand since the last one year.
He said Rahman was accused of moral corruption on February 3. A team appointed by the corps’ training center for investigating the case failed to find any evidence, but still he was disciplinary punished.
Another worker of the training center, Lt. Mohammad Hassan, who was on recess, returned to duty on February 11 and shared the case with the corps’ commander without contacting with the center’s commander, he added.
Rahimi said that the corps’ commander, Gen. Sami Sadat, sentenced Noor Rahman in a kangaroo court without investigating the case or referring him to judicial organs.
“The corps’ commander first undressed Noor Rahman in front of 2,000 soldiers and then beat him with cables until he went into coma and was taken to the corps hospital,” he said.
He also shared a picture of Noor Rahman with Pajhwok that shows the signs of torture on his body.
Rahimi said Noor Rahman’s health was yet to improve but it was more painful that he was first accused of sexual abuse and then sentenced in an arbitrary court.
He also shared the complaint letter with Pajhwok which signed by three representatives of Paktia province, who asked the National Security Council to investigate the case.
He added that the case of his nephew had to be referred to judicial organs instead of punishing him in a kangaroo court.
Rahimi said the commander of 215th Maiwand Military Corps and its training center worker, Mohammad Hassan, should be referred to the judiciary.
Father of Noor Rahman also complained to the Presidential Place and asked for justice.
He in his complaint had said there was no need for Taliban-like kangaroo sentences when judicial organs were present.
He added that the issue damaged their dignity and it needed an impartial investigation.
Helmand governor’s spokesman, Omar Zwak, said that they were unaware about the case.
Pajhwok also tried to contact Gen. Sami Sadat about the matter, but his phone was responded by another person who said that Sadat was busy in an operation in Nawa district.
A person, who refused to be named, said a team had arrived at the corps headquarters in Helmand for investigating the issue.
Pajhwok also contacted the Ministry of Defense about the case, but no one in the ministry provided information.
Mds/ma
