The former minister of industry and commerce, Mohammad Amin Farhang, who was sentenced to one year in prison and fined $800,000 by a special court last week has pleaded not guilty and has said the court ruling against him is not just.

In a letter made public, Farhang wrote that the court has announced its ruling despite an incomplete assessment by the Attorney General’s Office regarding the accusations against him. Therefore, he has asked for an assessment of his case by an international court.

Farhang is the second accused former minister to call the court's decision unjust.

“The law should be enforced equally against everyone whether it is high-ranking officials or an ordinary citizen. In some cases, the law is not implemented, and justice is not considered,” said Mohammad Sadiq Qaderi, an MP.

Mohammad Amin Farhang has served as the minister of economy and minister of industry and commerce from 2001 to 2008 under former president Hamid Karzai’s administration.

“The legislative branch as an independent branch of the system should assess the case impartially,” said Rohullah Sakhizad, a lawyer.

But the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) said that Mohammad Amin Farhang is accused of misuse of authority, embezzlement and other violations and that the court has decided on two of the accusations against him and that the assessment is underway on the third accusation.

“The relevant court convicted the former minister on one count, acquitted him on another count and another count needs more assessment and will be decided after the assessment is done,” AGO spokesman Jamshid Rasuli said.

The trial was held in Farhang’s absence last week. He has said that he could not appear at the court due to an illness.