Sherkhan Farnood

Sherkhan Farnood was the Chairman of Kabul Bank until late 2010, which is Afghanistan's largest private financial institution with over 1 million customers. Farnood holds 28.16% of the shares in the Kabul Bank.[1] He also owns Pamir Airways, in partnership with Khalilullah Fruzi/Frozi, Mohammed Fahim and possibly others.[2] According to media reports, by November 2010 Da Afghanistan Bank insisted both Farnood and Kabul Bank chief executive Frozi had been removed from bank management;[3]. As of early 2011 both are effectively under house arrest and cannot leave the country.[4]

An ethnic Uzbek[5], Farnood is originally from the northern Kunduz Province of Afghanistan.[6] He received education and a start in business in Moscow, Russia. During the 1980s and 90s, he was involved in transferring funds from Moscow to Kabul.[2] Farnood became a prominent poker player, he took part in the 2008 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE).[7] Prior to his detention, he spent most of his time in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he owns a number of villas under his name on Palm Jumeirah.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ "Financials". Kabul Bank. March 31, 2007. http://www.kabulbank.af/html/Financials.html. Retrieved 2010-09-06. 
  2. ^ a b "In Afghanistan, signs of crony capitalism (p.3)". Andrew Higgins. The Washington Post. February 22, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/21/AR2010022104317_3.html?sid=ST2010090107315. Retrieved 2010-09-06. 
  3. ^ Ellis, Eric (2010-11-07). "Why Farnood was flushed out of Kabulbank". Euromoney. http://www.euromoney.com/Article/2711446/CurrentIssue/80126/Why-Farnood-was-flushed-out-of-Kabulbank.html. Retrieved 2010-11-11. 
  4. ^ Partlow, Joshua (2011-02-01). "Kabul Bank employees flee to Pakistan amid investigation into lending, officials say". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/31/AR2011013106130.html. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  5. ^ "Afghan businessmen leave for Bonn meet". gulfnews. November 29, 2001. http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/afghan-businessmen-leave-for-bonn-meet-1.431266. Retrieved 2011-07-16. "I am born Uzbek, but I speak Tajik, Hazara and Pashto. I am married to a Pashtun. My mother is a Tajik. It is better you don't ask me about my tribal affiliations, because I am an Afghan." 
  6. ^ Afghan Biographies: Farnood, Sherkhan Shirkhan Farnud
  7. ^ "Sherkhan Farnood". Pokernews.com. http://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/sherkhan-farnood/. Retrieved 2010-09-06. 
  8. ^ "In Afghanistan, signs of crony capitalism (p.2)". Andrew Higgins. The Washington Post. February 22, 2010. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/21/AR2010022104317_2.html?sid=ST2010090107315. Retrieved 2010-09-06. 
  9. ^ "US Cuts Aid After Millions Siphoned Off to Dubai". Susanne Koelbl. Spiegel. July 5, 2010. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,704665,00.html. Retrieved 2010-09-06.