Briton Jailed In Afghanistan

A British man has been sentenced to two years in one of Afghanistan's most notorious prisons after being found guilty of bribery.

Bill Shaw, who is ex-army and now a manager for a firm providing security to the UK embassy in Kabul, was tried by the Afghan anti-corruption court.

Along with his jail sentence Mr Shaw was also fined $25,000 (£16,185) for bribing Afghan intelligence officers for the release of two impounded armoured cars.

The ex-Royal Military Police officer was one of the first to face charges at the Anti-Corruption Tribunal, a body only set up under British pressure at the start of this year and paid for by the UK taxpayer.

The country's anti-graft prosecutors focused their attention on the Briton who says he believed he was paying a legitimate fine to release two vehicles that were impounded by the national directorate due to licencing irregularities.

His defence lawyer insisted Mr Shaw thought he was making an official release payment rather than handing over a bribe.

Shaw arranged with a man called Eidi Mohammad for the cars to be released in return for $25,000. His lawyer argued that the fact that he attempted at the time the money was paid and for weeks afterwards to get a receipt proved that he had not intended to pay a bribe.

Shaw also co-operated with authorities, voluntarily attending interviews with investigators. He also returned to the country after a 12-day holiday in the UK in early January before he was arrested on 3 March.

But in his second hearing today Abdul Jalil Farooqi, the lead judge, questioned his claim that he did not think he was paying a bribe and also discounted written evidence from the security service that Mohammad was not a public servant – which would mean no law had been broken.

Mohammad has still not been found or questioned as part of the investigation.

Shaw's lawyer, Kimberley Motley, said the trial been poorly conducted and there would be an immediate appeal.

Mr Shaw will be sent within a week to Pul-e-Charkhi, a prison infamous for its overcrowding, squalor and the influence of the Taliban prisoners held there.

An embassy spokesman said: "If Bill Shaw intends to appeal we will press the Afghan authorities to make sure that process happens as quickly as possible. We will provide consular assistance including working to ensure best possible treatment and facilities."

(LB/BMcC)