Kyrgyz Prisons Chief Sacked In Procurement Scandal

Mukeyev had taken over the prison system after deadly riots in October (AFP) 1 February 2006 -- Kyrgyzstan's chief of prisons said today that he has been dismissed for having authorized the purchase of barbed wire for what officials regard as an excessive price.

Kapar Mukeyev insisted he has broken no laws, and he blamed his sacking on "corrupt officials" seeking to get rid of him.

Mukeyev has headed Kyrgyzstan's jail system since taking over after a wave of deadly prison riots in October.

He said he was dismissed after investigators found he had authorized paying too much for a recent supply of barbed wire for prisons under his control.

A spokesman for the Kyrgyz general prosecutor's office said Mukeyev was accused of "misuse of power over barbed wire purchases."

The Kyrgyz law-enforcement and security sector has been the object of intense scrutiny since Prime Minister Feliks Kulov on 25 January publicly accused police and security forces of failing to curb organized crime and corruption. Fallout has included the resignations of senior security officials.

(Reuters)