Authorities in Afghanistan have issued an arrest warrant for Abdul Qadeer Fitrat, the former governor of the central bank. Fitrat is suspected of being involved in the embezzlement of hundreds of millions of dollars from Afghan’s largest private bank, Kabul Bank.
When the central bank was bailed out in September, Fitrat was put in charge of the investigation into the crisis. Fitrat claims government officials stonewalled his investigation because several officials, including the brother of President Hamid Karzai and Vice President Qasim Fahim, were involved.
"During [the] last 10 months during the Kabul Bank crisis, I continuously pressed for the creation of a special prosecution, for the creation of a special tribunal to investigate and prosecute those who were involved in Kabul Bank's fraud," Fitrat told the BBC. "I did not receive any information that there is a credible plan to prosecute, to investigate and prosecute these individuals. The high political authorities of the country were responsible [for blocking] these efforts," he alleged.
Fitrat recently fled Afghanistan for the United States, where he has residency. He told reporters he decided to leave Afghanistan after "credible sources" said his “life was completely in danger.”
Deputy Attorney General Rahmatullah Nazari said there was “no threat” to Fitrat. “Such excuses are made by those who commit crimes and then leave the country seeking asylum abroad,” he said at a press conference.
"He will be brought here to face the judiciary. We will follow him," Nazari told the BBC. "There are some serious charges against him. He needs to answer all of them.''
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