Top Afghan lawyer Kabir Ranjbar arrested on rape charge

A PROMINENT Afghan lawyer close to a possible presidential candidate has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and raping a woman.

Kabir Ranjbar, the president of the Afghan Lawyers' Union and a former member of parliament, was detained on Saturday, deputy attorney-general Rahmatullah Nazari said.

Mr Nazari said the woman, now aged 20, was kidnapped from Dehsabz district, northeast of Kabul, about two and a half years ago and held at the home of Mr Ranjbar's niece.

Mr Ranjbar, a familiar face on Afghan television talk shows, allegedly got the woman drunk and raped her, the prosecutor said, and two months ago she gave birth to his child.

"I can confirm Kabir Ranjbar, a former Kabul MP in the lower house of parliament, has been arrested by the attorney-general's office yesterday, accused of kidnapping and raping a girl," Mr Nazari said, adding that the investigation was at an early stage.

Mr Ranjbar is a key member of the Right and Justice Party, led by ex-interior minister Hanif Atmar, who is seen as a potential candidate for the presidential election in 2014