Khalil Ferozi under close watch, care: AGO

KABUL improves and provides 50 percent of his debt.

Khalil Ferozi, former Kabul Bank chief executive, was imprisoned in June 2018 following money laundering and embezzlement allegations against him.

He must pay $137 million he embezzled and $59 million he earned from the embezzled money.

Ferozi was released from prison and moved home on August 13 but his release drew criticism from some figures including the US envoy to Afghanistan.

Jamshid Rasouli, Attorney General Office (AGO) spokesman, told a joint conference with Kabul Bank bailiff, Rohullah Habib, that Khalil Ferozi was released due to his health issues, suggested by a commission in charge and the office responsible for processing the Kabul Bank case.

He said Ferozi’s health condition was not good and it was the right of every citizen to spend his last days of life with his or her family.

Ferozi was released based on the law and in respect to human rights as well as a decision from judiciary and criminal organs for a temporary basis, he added.

“Ferozi’s release is temporary and based on two conditions; he would be taken back to prison whenever his health improves or he does not remain committed to his defaults,” he said.

Rasouli said the National Directorate of Security (NDS) had been tasked with keeping watch over Ferozi and provide report about his health after every 15 days.

Before Ferozi, 17 prisoners with incurable diseases have been released from prison during the last one year, he added.

He said 22 other prisoners with incurable diseases would be also released in future.

Rohullah Habib, bailiff of Kabul Bank case, said that Ferozi would undergo medical tests and would pay his promised 50 percent of the looted money.

He said Ferozi recently handed over his property worth $18 million and $14 million in cash.

Ferozi has signed an agreement with the office processing Kabul Bank case to pay his debt.

Of the total $970 million default, $400 million have so far been recovered from the defaulters, he added.

Hashmatullah Nawabi, a health official at NDS who was present in the conference, said that Ferozi had several times been taken to the intelligence agency’s hospital for his medical treatment.

He said Ferozi was suffering from sugar, high blood pressure and some other diseases and the health commission had recently suggested that he needed to be under long-term treatment so he did not face the fate of Sher Khan Farnod. He said Ferozi was under close watch and care.

mds/ma

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