The Ministry of Interior Affairs on Monday reported progress in the case involving Haji Delawar, a former advisor to Senate Speaker Fazl Hadi Muslimyar, who has been accused of “supporting and sheltering terrorists”.
Also under investigation is a recent graft case involving Haji Mohammad Rasa, a food contractor for the Afghan police who was arrested on May 29, the Interior Ministry’s spokesman Nusrat Rahimi said at a press conference on Monday.
Rasa was arrested on charges of “stealing AFs600 million ($7.5 million)” from meat supply in one year by over-billing the security agency.
The two cases have not been sent to the Attorney General’s Office due to their complexity and critical nature, Rahimi said.
“No doubt, we faced some pressures, but the Ministry of Interior will not surrender to money or power; the law will prevail on these people,” said Rahimi.
But, close relatives of Rasa and Delawar have rejected the allegations as baseless.
Rahimi said at least 10 people among them three Pakistani nationals have been arrested in connection to Delawar’s case.
“We have Pakistani drivers with us, but they are here with passport, licenses and ID cards. They came illegally is a conspiracy and falls,” said Haji Najibullah, Delawar’s uncle, and business partner.
“Haji Rasa has not a direct responsibility in the contracts, but he is currently in detention against the principles of the criminal law,” said Rohullah Sakhizad, Rasa’s defense attorney.
On May 29, Sources told TOLOnews that police have arrested at least 22 individuals, among them higher and lower rank officials of the ministry, who collaborated in the purchase of meat with Hajji Mohammad Rasa, the contractor, last year.
The total amount of contract between the Interior Ministry and the contractor company is estimated AFs1.2 billion (around $15 million).
According to the sources, the owner of the company and its staff members had forged the stamp of the Ministry of Interior and were collaborating with police commanders in provinces to conduct the “embezzlement”.