Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Afghanistan War News Updates -- March 5, 2013



Key Players In Afghanistan's Largest Banking Scandal Sentenced To Prison -- Washington Post

KABUL — The two men accused of orchestrating Afghanistan’s largest banking scandal were sentenced to five-year prison terms Tuesday, more than two years after stealing a total of nearly a billion dollars from Kabul Bank, about 5 percent of the country’s GDP.

In 2010, the scandal threatened to destabilize Afghanistan’s fragile economy. Its adjudication has since been considered by many as a litmus test for both the feeble Afghan judiciary and the government’s efforts to reduce rampant corruption.

The bank's former chairman, Sherkhan Farnood, and former chief executive officer, Khalilullah Ferozi, were found guilty of stealing $278 million and $530 million, respectively, and ordered to pay back that money. Nineteen other men were also found guilty of fraud; 18 were sentenced to short jail sentences.

Read more ....

More News On Afghanistan

Deadly missile attack on Afghan parliament foiled -- Khaama Press
NATO chief backs larger Afghan force through 2018 -- AP
NATO expects decision on post-2014 Afghan force by mid-year -- Reuters
NATO in Afghanistan - Kandahar's Air Wing Aims to Stand Alone -- Atlantic Community
NATO, Karzai Call on Pakistan to do More Against Terrorism -- Voice of America
Karzai Criticizes Pakistan For Not Helping Against Terrorism -- Radio Free Europe
Karzai Assails Pakistani Cleric -- Wall Street Journal
Kabul Bank fraud: Sherkhan Farnood and Khalilullah Ferozi jailed -- BBC
Prison sentences in Kabul Bank investigation -- Al Jazeera
Kabul Bank chiefs jailed for fraud -- The Guardian
Sixteen Men Given Jail Time in Afghan Bank Scandal -- New York Times/Reuters
German Defense Minister de Maiziere visits troops in Afghanistan -- Deutsche Welle
Dam and other Afghanistan projects being scaled back as U.S. picks up pace of withdrawal -- Washington Post
Russia’s Concerns About Afghanistan After NATO -- Judy Dempsey, IHT

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