INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT CORRUPTION TASK FORCE HELPING

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