Mahmood Karzai told The Associated Press today that he bought the house on the Palm Jumeirah in July 2007 to obtain residency in Dubai. He is the third-biggest shareholder in the bank, which faced a bank run last week following reports of steep losses tied partly to risky Dubai property investments.
Karzai says the loan and purchase was arranged by former Kabul Bank chairman Sherkhan Farnood, but is unsure whether the money came from the bank or from Farnood personally. Farnood couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
(Published 08 September 2010, 14:57 IST)