**A British manager of a firm providing security to the UK embassy in Kabul has been jailed for two years after being found guilty of bribery charges.**Ex-army officer Bill Shaw was tried by the Afghan anti-corruption court, partly funded by the UK government.
He was also fined $25,000 (£16,185). Reports say his lawyers will appeal against his conviction.
Mr Shaw admitted paying for the release of two armoured cars - impounded by the Afghan authorities last October.
But his defence lawyer insisted Mr Shaw thought he was making an official release payment rather than handing over a bribe.
His trial was one of the first cases heard by an anti-corruption court which was set up to help the Afghan government crack down on corruption.
But there are suggestions that Mr Shaw’s conviction is an attempt by the Afghan government to prove its claim that foreigners are responsible for most of the country’s corruption.
This has been denied by the Afghan authorities.
According to reports, Mr Shaw is now set to be moved to Pul-e-Charkhi prison - a notorious jail on the outskirts of the capital, Kabul - in the coming days.
His lawyer said the trial had been poorly conducted and that there would be an immediate appeal.
The security firm Mr Shaw worked for - G4S - said his conviction - along with an Afghan colleague - was “patently unfair,” he said.This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
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