SPLM’s Amum implicated in 60 million dollar scam
By Ngor Arol Garang
February 10 (JUBA) – Pagan Amum, the Secretary General of South Sudan’s ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), is one such victim on the list of the top government officials implicated in the 60 million dollar scam.
The report covering 2005- 2006 equally observed that a lot of public funds and resources were spent without giving details of how they were used. Some 7 million dollars was discovered to have gone missing between the amount transferred out to the account in Geneva and the amount returned to the account of GOSS in the Central Bank of Khartoum?
Responding to the mounting pressure from the general public on the government to live up to its constitutional commitment to exercise transparency and improve system of accountability, the country’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit in 2007, removed Arthur Akuien Chol from the ministerial post as minister of finance. Many link his dismissal to financial scam.
Chol denied the allegations and alleged that he had noted attempts from individual within the ruling party to discredit and defame his personality as a significant figure amongst the founding members of the young nation, allegedly for establishing “strict operative values” that frustrated lust for public funds by individuals.
He also denied any involvement in the loss of 60 million dollars which the Sudanese government gave the leadership of the ruling party prior to the establishment of the regional government.
Making the first public appearance at a press conference held in Juba on Thursday at Home and Away Hotel, after he was removed from the ministry many years ago, Chol said was only keeping quiet as a matter of “patriotism” and “loyalty” to the country and not because he had in anyway embezzled public funds, as alleged in the local and international media.
“My appearance today before you all is in the sole interest of all citizens of this country, the Republic of South Sudan to whom I remain loyal. I was keeping quiet because I did not want to spoil the process that was leading us, as the people known as the “Southern Sudanese”, to the independence of South Sudan, and the subsequent declaration of the Republic of South Sudan as a united nation”, Chol told reporters
He said he was aware of the plans and intentions to remove him from the office as the first attempt was when he was accused of misusing and stealing public funds propagated by some few individuals within the government.
“This first attempt led to a caucus sitting of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) as an intervention. The latter, he said, in response to this matter, resolved with their own clear findings that transparency and accountability had existed within what was then, my Ministry. In my own opinion, this was the beginning of my downfall”.
Chol explained that the period covering 2005-06, saw a great influx of cash that brought him troubles because of establishing strict operative values that could not allow public money to be rotating anyhow amongst corrupt individuals.
“This was the beginning of my accusations, by a manipulation of opinion, both Government and Public, and used as a way for me to be removed from office, in order to allow a certain few unscrupulous and corrupt individuals within the governing system, easy access to public money, without the fear of question by me”, he explained.
The second attempt was in the same 2006 when he was again accused on matters regarding a grant of $ 60, 000, 000 (Sixty million US dollars) given to the leadership of the SPLM by the president of Sudan, Omar el Bashir.
“These accusations were made by the SPLM Secretary General, Pagan Amum and Luka Biong, the treasurer of the SPLM at the time, stating that I had stolen the above figures but clearly, this amount was paid to the account of GOSS in the Bank of Sudan with Isaac Makur and Silvano Jal Malith as signatories to the account”, he said.
He said his involvement in reference to the approvals he made, having been given instructions from above, led to the expenditure of only $ 30, 000,000, of which he said hold copies of the originals, of all documents of the above expenditures, and can fully account for them.
The other $30,000,000 was placed in the hands of SPLM SG, Pagan Amum, as it was paid by the Ministry of Finance directly into his account as once again I had been instructed from above. That transfer was done on 22 December 2006 and I believe that he, Pagan Amum is the one who should account, and he can clearly tell the public how he spent those funds, as he cannot accountable for his expenditures.
The third attempt and which eventually led to his removal as the Minister of Finance; was when he was accused of purchasing vehicles from the Cardinal Company at a price twice the actual amount. These vehicles were purchased following the written instructions from the Vice President, Riek Machar Teny, that he should purchase the vehicles from Cardinal Company for various Ministries.
The minister in turn directed t his undersecretary of Finance to proceed with the transaction in accordance with the proper procurement procedures that were to be followed in his absence as he was on an official visit to Malaysia and Singapore.
“Despite all my precautions and procedures that I put in place to be followed, I was then held responsible for these purchases, while my directives to the undersecretary clearly indicated procurement procedures had to be followed in accordance with the laid down procedures. As a result, I was removed from my office and my duties as Minister of Finance were abruptly terminated, and immediately thereafter, I was accused and arrested for corruption. I was later investigated and tried, but there was no evidence of wrong doing, and the case was dismissed by the province Judge Malek Mathiang in Juba on the 30th September 2009”, the emotionally charged ex-minister explained
Chol said allegations labeled against him by the former bank governor that had embezzled public funds while in office were do not hold grounds but that the act was a clear indication grievances of his dismissal as the Governor of Bank of South Sudan.
Elijah Malok Aleng, the former South Sudan Bank governor last month told the National Assembly that he was only a custodian of public funds without authority to question what he thought were official transfers and withdrawals of the public funds authorized by the ministry of finance. He accused Chol to have transferred public funds to his personal account in Geneva. The Auditor General also asked Chol to explain why there was a discrepancy of US$ 7 million between the amount transferred out to the account in Geneva and the amount returned to the account of GOSS in the Central Bank of Khartoum.
Chol denied knowing any transactions and prepares the Auditor General ask Central Bank of Khartoum to account for that, as it was the agent of the transactions. Many link the reaction in which Aleng accused Chol to have embezzled funds as proactive defense, as was he was deputy central bank of Khartoum at the time.
Chol acknowledged and commend the Auditor General for having tabled the audit reports for the year 2005-2006 before the national assembly, but does not believe that there was sufficient attention given to the discovery of the true facts.
“I am of the opinion that the Auditor General should instruct his auditors to do a full audit and discovery on the National Bank, and I am sure if they do this in a diligent and professional manner, they will find the missing links, as they are there, but not yet discovered. In light of the current oil crisis, and the austerity measures proposed to be undertaken by the Government of South Sudan, I strongly recommend that proper investigations be carried out to determine actual truths to the matter at hand”, he explained.
He expressed concern of what he described as false allegations that have been made against him, and which he said have caused him and his family to endure a great amount of personal suffering, public suspicion and abuse.
It is widely reported on the internet that I have stolen money from the Government of Southern Sudan. This is a personal attack against my integrity, and indirectly reflects on the integrity of my family, who has suffered in silence, while protesting my innocence. I let it be known, that for the sake of this Nation, and from the time I was appointed as the guardian of the Nations finances, I guarded them well, he said.
Chol said he was not afraid of any court and that he welcomes full and thorough investigations into the allegations to establish actual facts.
“I take this opportunity to inform you, the members of the Press, the people of South Sudan, and the International community, that I am not afraid of the Court, and will welcome a full and thorough investigation, conducted with full transparency, that will disclose the full facts and truth behind the discrepancies and missing funds, and I can assure you that I will once again be exonerated, but this time the true corrupt individuals will be exposed by a proper investigation of the facts. This Nation must stand proud. We fought a war and won it. We had our referendum and won it 98% and won, and with that we won our Independence. We must now fight and win our financial war, both here at home and with Khartoum. Corruption should not be condoned”, he explained.
(ST)