Cablegate: International Contract Corruption Task Force Helping

VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBUL #3638 3160400
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120400Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3039

UNCLAS KABUL 003638

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SRAP STAFF AND SCA/A

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KJUS KCOR EAID AF
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT CORRUPTION TASK FORCE HELPING
SUCCESSFULLY COMBAT CORRUPTION IN AFGHANISTAN

1. Current levels of corruption in Afghanistan undermine security,
development, and rule of law objectives, damage the legitimacy of
the Afghan government, and contribute to the country's illicit
narcotics trade. At a recent interagency presentation in Kabul, the
work of International Contract Corruption Task Force (ICCTF) showed
the positive role it plays in U.S. Mission anti-corruption efforts
in Afghanistan.

2. The ICCTF is an integrated group of U.S. civilian and military
law enforcement organizations, including the Defense Criminal
Investigative Service, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command -
MPFU, FBI, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction
(SIGAR), and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, among
others. In operations in Iraq, Kuwait, and in Afghanistan, the
ICCTF works closely with these partner investigative and law
enforcement agencies. With 27 agents and auditors based at Bagram
Airbase, Camp Eggers in Kabul, and in Kandahar, ICCTF in Afghanistan
investigates contract fraud and public corruption related to U.S.
government funds.

3. Since July 2006 when ICCTF began operations in Afghanistan, it
has conducted more than 30 investigations involving American and
Afghan defendants. Prosecutions have included violations for public
corruption (e.g., bribery and kickbacks), procurement fraud (e.g.,
false claims, labor mischarging, and undelivered or defective
goods), and theft. Case resolution statistics for both Iraq and
Afghanistan include: 64 criminal convictions, USD 97 million paid to
the U.S. in restitution, USD 6 million levied in fines and
penalties, and USD 10 million seized or forfeited.

4. The ICCTF plays a significant role in USG efforts in the fight
against corruption, in particular by setting an example for Afghans
by aggressively detecting and investigating corrupt contracting
practices involving U.S. taxpayer funds. Building understanding of
the importance of self-policing will be an important aspect of
developing anti-corruption work in Afghanistan.

Eikenberry

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