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Anti-corruption efforts get another boost
Story and Photos by Lt. j.g. Egdanis Torres Sierra
Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan Public Affairs
KABUL, Afghanistan (Jan. 29, 2017) — The Afghan Anti-Corruption Justice Center here opened new facilities today, where the staff held an inauguration and prepared to push even harder against corruption.
Standing in one of the new courtrooms, Maj. Gen. Richard G. Kaiser, commanding general of Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, spoke to the Afghan leadership in charge of fighting corruption and furthering rule of law in Afghanistan.
"Corruption is the enemy of Afghanistan. Corruption is what is killing our soldiers and stealing the future of this country. There are three things that you all must do to be successful: always do what is right for Afghanistan, fight the temptation of becoming corrupted yourself, and stay strong and courageous," Kaiser said. "We are with you step by step."
During the ceremony, participants highlighted the importance of cooperation from the civilian community in the fight against corruption. They urged the people of Afghanistan to trust their judiciary system for the sake of their children and their futures.
"The international community stands by your side as you bravely take this challenge to prosecute cases of corruption. We demand that the money we have pledged to the future of this country it is used to help the Afghan people," said Dominic Jermey, ambassador of the United Kingdom. "This is not about politics, this is about the future of your country."
The ACJC was created by President Ashraf Ghani in the summer of 2016. It consists of highly-trained investigators, prosecutors and judges. Not co-located with any Afghan agency, and away from downtown Kabul, the ACJC independently investigates and prosecutes cases of high-level corruption.
Since the ACJC opened in October 2016, it has successfully tried, convicted, and sentenced 14 defendants.
"Today was truly a historic event, as we saw coalition partners and Afghan leaders jointly celebrate the opening of the new Anti-Corruption Justice Center facility. As evidenced by a packed courtroom, and witnessed by scores of media, Afghanistan, CSTC-A, and the United Kingdom pledged to continue working together to eradicate corruption from this great country,” said Col. John Siemietkowski, advisor and deputy director of Rule of Law Essential Function, CSTC-A.
CSTC-A advisors work with the ACJC to support them through frequent contacts with its judges and prosecutors. Additionally, they mentor Afghan investigators at the Major Crimes Task Force, the ACJC's primary investigative arm.
The MCTF is a specialized Afghan law-enforcement agency that systematically inquiries into corruption leads from various sources, sometimes NATO-based. Once it has gathered sufficient evidence, it provides its case file to the ACJC for further investigation and prosecution.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 02.03.2017 05:28 |
| Story ID: | 221783 |
| Location: | AF |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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