South Sudan releases journalist after ten hours detention
By Isaac Vuni
August 8, 2007 (JUBA) — The resident magistrate of Juba has released Nhial Bol, the Editor-in-Chief of The Citizen Newspaper from police detention because there was no summon of arrest either from Juba or Khartoum, said the Attorney General.
According to Nahil Bol, Juba police brought to him a letter requesting him to report to police station and on reporting, police detained him as from9am to 7pm. He was charged under Sudan penal code of 2003 section 66/27/29/37. Juba police cited a summon filled for his arrest from Khartoum by Aleiu Ayeng Aleiu, State minister of Interior in the government of National Unity.
The state minister has opened a libel case concerning stories published by the Citizen about a car purchase scandal. The incriminated contract was at the cost of 76 million US dollar and the GoSS former minister of finance Ather Akuen is implicated in the case.
Quoting lawmakers on Monday, the Citizen reported that Al Cardinal Company was contracted to supply 450 vehicles, but only 153 cars are so far delivered to GoSS at a price of $ 97,000 but the market price for a vehicle is $ 45,000.
Nhail also said GoSS minister of Interior Paul Mayoum Akec has accused him of obstructing justice by reporting about dismissal of Chief investigator of Al Cardinal Company suspected corrupt deal with former GoSS minister of Finance and Economic planning, Athren Akuen Chol, now arrested and detained in Juba prison.
“Minister Paul Mayom Akec said I should not report anything about dismissal of police Lt. Col. Francis Chol Lang because it was done by police headquarters in Juba”, saad Bol.
Nhail Bol further disclosed that President Salva Kiir Mayardit has instructed him today through minister of Information and broadcasting that he should not report to Khartoum instead Aleiu Ayeng Aleiu, State minister of Interior at the government of national unity will be ordered to report to Juba to explain why he, Aleiu, ordered for his arrest. Minister Paul Mayom was expected to attend council of ministers meeting today and to answer queries but he was not present although he arrived from Khartoum today.
Southern Sudan lawmakers have placed the southern Sudan interior minister under criminal investigations, after they barely failed to impeach him last Friday.
Minister Paul Mayom is the first minister to appear before southern Sudan lawmakers over allegation of corruption involving government of southern Sudan deal with Al Cardinal Company.
(ST)