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Three former senators jailed for 10 years over $40,000 bribe
Three former members of Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) have been sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison each after being found guilty of corruption by the Anti-Corruption Justice Center’s primary court, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) stated on Saturday.
Video evidence reportedly showed the three former senators, Mohammad Anwar Bashliq, Mohammad Azim Qoyash and Liyaqatullah Babakarkhil asking for $40,000 in bribe money from customs officials at the Hairatan land port in the northern province of Balkh.
According to the AGO, the senators were also fined $40,000.
The lawyer defending the senators meanwhile stated the court’s decision was politically driven and that outside elements including government had interfered in the case.
The senators have however been granted leave to appeal the court’s decision.
This comes after the Meshrano Jirga sent the three members to Balkh province to assess the problem of corruption at Hairatan port. However, they were arrested by the National Directorate of Security (NDS).