KABUL (Pajhwok): An anti-corruption court on Sunday sent to jail two former Afghan military commanders for three to five years over misuse of authority and acting against the law.
Former 2015th Maiwand Military Corps commander Lt. Gen. Mohammad Moeen Faqir and 1st brigade commander of the same corps were convicted during an open trial at the primary court of the anti- corruption tribune.
Defence lawyers, government officials, representatives of watchdogs and civil society activists were present at the court and witnessed the proceedings.
Faqir had illegally appointed 30 security personnel and had given them five military vehicles for one year.
During that period, Faqir allegedly provided 11,400 liters of fuel to these vehicles and cash money for purchasing needed goods for security personnel in Helmand’s Sangin district in violation of the procurement law.
The Attorney General accused Faqir of reserving 13 million afghanis for some months, which was against the law.
In addition, Brig. Gen. Fazal Rahman Andarabi, former commander of Maiwand Military Corps 1st brigade, Col. Mohammad Ibrahim, director investigation, Col. Zabihullah, financial in charge of the corps and Col. Ghulam Faqir, director detective have been accused of being partners of Faqir in the crimes.
However, defense lawyer spurned the allegations as baseless, saying his client had security threats and needed to protect himself.
When contractors were unable to transfer needed commodities and equipment to Sangin district, so based on suggestion by the former 1st brigade commander of the corps, the soldiers were given money to meet their needs, he argued.
Shir Aqa Munib, the ACJC primary court head, announced the verdict on behalf of the jurists, sentencing Faqir to five years and three months in jail for misusing and abusing authority, using the corps vehicles for personal purposes and receiving 2,000 litres of fuel under the 39th Article of Military Penal Code and 39th and 158th of Penal Code.
Judge Munib also delivered verdict asking Faqir to pay nearly 700,000 afghanis as reimbursement for the government fuel he had consumed.
In addition, Judge Munib also sentenced Andrabi to three years and three months in prison for being complicit in providing money to soldiers (for buying needed material). The verdict also fined Andrabi 270,734 afghanis.
At the end, Col. Mohammad Ibrahim, director investigation of the corps, Col. Zabihullah, financial in charge of corps and Col. Ghulam Faqir, detectives’ director of the corps were acquitted for lack of evidence.
Both Faqir and Andrabi said they didn’t accept the verdict and they would challenge it in the appellate court.
nh/sns/ma
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