NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan held its first major corruption case in Nangarhar in the provincial capital city of Jalalabad Nov. 25.
Akhtar Mohammad, the former Independent Elections Commission provincial elections officer for Nangarhar, was found guilty on charges of embezzlement and corruption, and was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
“This trial was an opportunity to show the Afghan people that their government’s judicial system has brought officials like Akhtar to justice and will continue to do so,” said Zia ul Din Bawer, Afghanistan’s Eastern Region Court chief.
The guilty finding seemed to represent a landmark ruling in the fight against corruption.
The case was presented before the public and media, offering the people of Nangarhar an unprecedented view into their judicial system. The trial is the latest milestone in GIRoA’s journey to become a stable, competent administration capable of discharging all the requisite duties to lead Afghanistan, said Shane Kelbley from Philadelphia and the Nanagarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team’s senior rule of law expert.
“The Afghan public has a very big appetite for justice, for seeing people brought to account for their actions,” Kelbley said. “The fact that the judicial system brought a very powerful governmental official to trial proves the progress Afghanistan is making.”
The trial highlights GIRoA’s aggressive efforts to eradicate corruption amongst its ranks, said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Anderson, Dallas, the Nangarhar PRT commander.
“This trial, as a result of its transparency, proves to the people of Nangarhar that their government will not tolerate corruption,” Anderson said. “Open trials in front of the media and population are the best way to empower the population.”