Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria ex-finance minister arrested
Sept 29, 2006 (JUBA) — The former minister of finance, Eastern Equatoria State has been placed in shackles and remains in Torit prison without any formal charges placed against him.
The former minister, Paul Odiong Dominic, complains that his civil and constitutional rights are undermined. “I want to know the criminal charges against me that amounted to shackling someone.. I have not done anything”, Odiong claims.
Previously, the former minister of finance was placed under house arrest without charges by the governor of Eastern Equatoria, Alesio Ojetuk. When found moving outside the confines of his home, the governor ordered Odiong to clear his properties out of a house previously rented for him in Juba at the Eastern Equatoria Coordinating Office. The ex-finance minister was placed in shackles and given seven days to remove all his properties from the Juba residence.
Paul Odiong told the Juba Post that he refused to go to Juba to evacuate the residence until he faced trial in Torit. “When I demanded trial in Torit before going to Juba , the request provoked the governor, I was shackled in chains and put in a car and brought to Juba”, said Paul Odiong.
Paul Odiong accuses the governor of controlling everything; “Since our appointment, we have only had there meetings in the council of ministers, he does things alone. There were no meetings in the parliament, no consultation, if that is what the SPLM went to fight for the people’s rights and ending up bringing somebody who does not know the ABC’s of the administration”, he complains.
Ojetuk has recently ordered the release of Odiong from prison on the condition that he packs up his belongings, leaves the governor’s house and departs to Juba.
He will continue to remain in custody if he does not comply. Odiong is considering appealing to the high court.
(Juba Post)