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KABUL (SW): Official documents obtained by Salam Watandar indicate the Afghan embassy in the Washington D.C. has embezzled up to AFN 17 million from the public funds.
An official letter no. 7162/123 on 20/07/1395 (SH) signed by Mohaiuddin Sahibzada, head of administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, states that the financial affairs at the embassy have been evaluated from 1391 till 1395 (SH) that concluded Mr. Ahmad Shah Katawazi shall pay back $83576.43.
This letter unveils that on top of the allocated budget, the second secretary at the embassy, Mr. Katawazi, has given away money to Yama Qureshi and Bezan Tahiri, and has also allowed the two men to buy return tickets and rent homes. The official is also charged with embezzling money acquired after selling off two cards of the embassy.
Another communique no. 7169 by the MoFA on 11/08/1395 clearly sates if the embassy failed to determine the fate of AFN 17.8 million, the amount would be detected from Mr. Katawazi and Murtaza Haqjo.
Later, in the letter no. 315/154 on 7/05/1396 by Naseer Ahmad Andesha, deputy minister for financial and administrative affairs at the MoFA, the findings by the internal audit are shared again, and it is stressed the clarification by Mr. Katawazi is not satisfactory, and after two years there is no justification for the amount spent.
A well-placed source who wished not to be named in the report informed Salam Watandar Mr. Katawazi has the backing of the ambassador, and has been promoted to the level of first secretary. “The diplomats are treated with discrimination, and those not having the backing of the president are not treated professionally”. The source added the ambassador, cultural attaché, defense attaché, security attaché and a number of other staff hails from a certain ethnic group, and are involved in lobbying for President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.
The source added ambassador Mohib has appointed Madina Qasimi, former secretary to the first lady, as first secretary at the embassy in 1395 (SH) in violation of regulations and despite her not having any experience at the MoFA. She was appointed without her returning to Kabul in line with the rules of diplomatic service.
Salam Watandar wished to have the views of ambassador Mohib, Majid Qarar, Murtaza Haqjo and Ahmad Shah Katawazi, but to no avail. Sibghat Ahmadi, spokesman for the MoFA, also promised to respond, but declined to reply after listening to queries.
ENDS
