Baghlan jail being used despite severe damage

KABUL (SIGAR) on Tuesday said severe damages had occurred to a State Department funded $11.3 million prison in northern Baghlan province after its construction.

In its report released today, the US government’s leading oversight authority on Afghanistan reconstruction construction deficiencies might be the result of fraudulent actions by a former embassy employee and contractor personnel.
It said the State Department’s apparent reluctance to use reinforced masonry to rebuild the prison presented a safety risk to prisoners and workers and increased risk of prisoner escape.
It said the contractor invoiced $170,400 for a security fence and storm water management system that was never built.
The report said the overcrowded prison located in the second-highest earthquake zone was currently being used despite extensive structural damage.
The hail was facing major maintenance issues due to poor or non-existent maintenance by the Afghan government, it concluded.
pr/ma

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