US probes Karzai brother for graft
New York, Sept. 27: The United States federal prosecutors have launched a criminal corruption probe into one of the Afghan President, Mr Hamid Karzai’s brothers, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.
“Mr Mahmood Karzai, a US citizen subject to US tax law, is at the centre of an investigation led by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York,” the newspaper said, citing the US officials.
The move could risk a further setback in already toxic ties with the mercurial leader, who has challenged the US efforts to overcome graft in Afghanistan that they say is undermining public support for the Afghan President and thus helping fuel the Taliban insurgency.
Senior officials in President Obama’s administration are already said to have decided to pull back on Afghan anti-corruption efforts, to smooth relations with Mr Hamid Karzai.
The prosecutors are trying to establish whether they have enough evidence to bring tax evasion, racketeering or extortion charges against Mr Mahmood Karzai, the Journal said. It noted that prosecutors are also looking at Afghan bank executives and alleged opium traffickers.
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