Former Afghan Bank Chief Gets 20-Year Jail Sentence

The former head of an Afghan government-owned bank has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for embezzling millions of dollars.

Hayatullah Dayani, the former head of Pashtany Bank, was accused of involvement in the theft of more than $26 million from 2006 to 2008.

Authorities said 15 other people have also been jailed in connection with the corruption, receiving between five and eight years in jail.

Reports say former officials of the Ministry of Urban Development have also been jailed over the embezzlement.

Three of those found guilty in the case were tried in abstentia after they fled Afghanistan.

According to Transparency International, a global corruption watchdog, Afghanistan remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Based on reporting by dpa and tolonews.com