The spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) Jamshid Rasuli said on Monday the case involving Khalil Andarabi, the former police chief of Maidan Wardak province, has been referred to court for further action.
Andarabi has been accused of embezzlement and misuse of authority along with having supported the Taliban.
Reports emerged about 10 months ago of Andarabi’s involvement in transporting the Taliban intelligence commander for Kunduz, Qari Zahir, to Baghlan province in an official police vehicle.
While on the way however, security forces stopped the vehicle and arrested Zahir.
“The investigative team has found that he is accused of embezzlement and misuse of authorities and we have sent his case to the ACJC court,” Jamshid Rasuli, AGO spokesman said.
This comes after Kamran Alizaye, head of Herat’s provincial council, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by the Anti-Corruption Criminal Justice Center’s (ACJC) primary court two weeks ago, handed himself over to Herat police on Sunday – a move welcomed by the AGO.
“He has referred to intelligence department and has come under the legal umbrella. The law will be implemented, and no one is above the law,” Rasuli said.
According to Rasuli, another case, involving Abdul Rahman Sarjang, the former police chief of southern Helmand province, is also under investigation.
Sarjang was accused 10 months ago of misuse of authority, promulgating the existence of ghost soldiers under his command and poor war management.
A number of Parliament Members (MPs) and Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) officials meanwhile said powerful men have influence over government departments and that government is unable to punish these people.
“Corruption cases are not being investigated by the attorney general’s office and are not being sent to court. This decreases people’s trust in anti-corruption departments and also corrupt people use this situation for their own benefit,” Khalid Pashton, an MP, said.
“There is not political will to fight corruption and that has resulted in the anti-corruption department not being accountable,” said Ikram Afzali, executive director of IWA.
The case of Zmarai Paikan, the former commander of Afghan Public Protection Force (APPF), who lost his job a few months ago, is also under investigation by the AGO. This came after reports emerged of his possible involvement in a murder his son allegedly committed.