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Jailed Frozi’s Health A Worry For His Family

Family members of the former Chief Executive Officer of the old Kabul Bank Khalilullah Frozi on Saturday said they are worried about his health.

Frozi, who was also a shareholder in the bank, is currently serving a 15 year sentence in Bagram Prison. 

His relatives raised concerns after the founder and former chairman of the bank Sherkhan Farnood died in prison on Friday. 

Frozi and Farnood had been found guilty of being part of the $900 million Kabul Bank embezzlement scandal in 2014. 

Frozi’s family on Saturday raised concerns over what they said was mistreatment of prisoners by prison guards.  

Frozi’s brother, Wahidullah Frozi, said in the last seven months both the family and Frozi’s attorney have been unable to visit him in jail. 

“We were not even able to take him vegetables in prison. My friends who have taken (food) to the prison, were asked to give money. I even heard that they (guards) asked for $300 for one white onion to be allowed into the prison,” said Wahidullah Frozi. 

Frozi’s sister Razia said they are particularly worried about him as he has diabetes. She said government was aware of his health condition but that he was not getting the correct food in prison. 

Razia said he is not getting the right medical treatment either.  

“The condition is very bad. Although (people say) there is a cell, there is also a cage. I don’t know which law has allowed this,” said Razia. 

Bagram Prison was handed over by foreign troops to the Afghan government in 2013. Recently the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) agreed to monitor the prison and prisoners’ welfare. 

“Access to services and other things are available there like they are at other prisons in Afghanistan,” AIHRC CEO Musa Mahmoudi said. 

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said they were not involved in the prison.

“We only support the outer environment of the prison, the issues inside the prison belongs to other departments,” MoD spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said. 

Frozi’s family said they have complained to the Presidential Palace on a number of occasions and asked officials to address Frozi’s health concerns but that they have not received any response as yet from them. 

The Presidential Palace however would not comment on the issue.  

Kabul Bank Scandal

Kabul Bank, once the country's largest financial institution, collapsed in 2010 in one of the largest banking scandals in the country's history.

The former chairman of Kabul Bank, Sherkhan Farnood, and CEO Khalilullah Frozi were sacked from their positions and arrested over the embezzlement of more than $900 million in cash and assets.

Frozi and Farnood were sentenced each to 15 years in jail after they were found guilty in the collapse of Kabul Bank, now run by government.

In November 2015, government launched the 'Smart City Township' Project in which Khalilullah Frozi was a part. 

Government officials said the aim of the program was to help the debtors of Kabul Bank repay their debt instead of being imprisoned. 

The move however sparked an outcry.

In February 2016, President Ashraf Ghani cancelled the contract of the Smart City Township.

Jailed Frozi’s Health A Worry For His Family

The former Kabul Bank CEO’s family said he is diabetic and is not getting a proper diet or treatment in prison.

تصویر بندانگشتی

Family members of the former Chief Executive Officer of the old Kabul Bank Khalilullah Frozi on Saturday said they are worried about his health.

Frozi, who was also a shareholder in the bank, is currently serving a 15 year sentence in Bagram Prison. 

His relatives raised concerns after the founder and former chairman of the bank Sherkhan Farnood died in prison on Friday. 

Frozi and Farnood had been found guilty of being part of the $900 million Kabul Bank embezzlement scandal in 2014. 

Frozi’s family on Saturday raised concerns over what they said was mistreatment of prisoners by prison guards.  

Frozi’s brother, Wahidullah Frozi, said in the last seven months both the family and Frozi’s attorney have been unable to visit him in jail. 

“We were not even able to take him vegetables in prison. My friends who have taken (food) to the prison, were asked to give money. I even heard that they (guards) asked for $300 for one white onion to be allowed into the prison,” said Wahidullah Frozi. 

Frozi’s sister Razia said they are particularly worried about him as he has diabetes. She said government was aware of his health condition but that he was not getting the correct food in prison. 

Razia said he is not getting the right medical treatment either.  

“The condition is very bad. Although (people say) there is a cell, there is also a cage. I don’t know which law has allowed this,” said Razia. 

Bagram Prison was handed over by foreign troops to the Afghan government in 2013. Recently the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) agreed to monitor the prison and prisoners’ welfare. 

“Access to services and other things are available there like they are at other prisons in Afghanistan,” AIHRC CEO Musa Mahmoudi said. 

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said they were not involved in the prison.

“We only support the outer environment of the prison, the issues inside the prison belongs to other departments,” MoD spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said. 

Frozi’s family said they have complained to the Presidential Palace on a number of occasions and asked officials to address Frozi’s health concerns but that they have not received any response as yet from them. 

The Presidential Palace however would not comment on the issue.  

Kabul Bank Scandal

Kabul Bank, once the country's largest financial institution, collapsed in 2010 in one of the largest banking scandals in the country's history.

The former chairman of Kabul Bank, Sherkhan Farnood, and CEO Khalilullah Frozi were sacked from their positions and arrested over the embezzlement of more than $900 million in cash and assets.

Frozi and Farnood were sentenced each to 15 years in jail after they were found guilty in the collapse of Kabul Bank, now run by government.

In November 2015, government launched the 'Smart City Township' Project in which Khalilullah Frozi was a part. 

Government officials said the aim of the program was to help the debtors of Kabul Bank repay their debt instead of being imprisoned. 

The move however sparked an outcry.

In February 2016, President Ashraf Ghani cancelled the contract of the Smart City Township.

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