No effort made for recovery from Gas Group: MEC

KABUL): The government has made no serious effort to recover money that was laundered internationally or to recover $121 million owed by the Gas Group to the Kabul Bank, the Independent Joint Anti-Corruption Monitoring & Evaluation Committee (MEC) said on Saturday.

In its fourth half-yearly report, the MEC noted the “receivership has made some progress” in recovering money from the sale of assets. The investigation of additional beneficiaries has been non-existent and the appeal has been slow to progress.

Relevant parties were unwilling to review the Civilian Technical Assistance Programme as recommended by the committee, it added. Similarly, the Military Hospital-related misconduct has been prolonged due to an incomplete investigation, weak indictment and prosecution.

“On a positive note, there has been some progress in implementing MEC’s recommendations related to funding provided by UNHRC, resulting in a review of financial and administrative practices,” the report added.

The MEC noted the Supreme Court’s willingness to begin publishing judgments and the Independent Election Commission’s fraud mitigation strategy. The committee will closely monitor the plans.

MEC Chairman Yasin Osmani said: “Over the past six months, MEC has taken its role as an independent voice assessing anti-corruption efforts in Afghanistan seriously. MEC has identified a number of measures to improve the fight against corruption…”

In the reporting period MEC issued 36 new recommendations, two public reports, including one on the implementation of the Presidential Decree 45 and engaged dozens of local, national and international organizations.

pr/mud

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