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South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK

December 14, 2008 (JUBA) — The Ministry of Regional Cooperation of the
Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) refuted a corruption allegation
stemming from a purported news outlet called IRS and circulating over
the internet.

According to a message from IRS received by Sudan Tribune, dated December 5, Stephen Madut Baak, identified as an
advisor to President of GOSS Salva Kiir Mayardit, entered London’s
Heathrow airport with $3 million in undeclared cash and was
subsequently questioned by police.

The article implied that Baak had stolen the money from his country.

But the Ministry of Regional Cooperation explained Friday that Baak
was indeed carrying money into the United Kingdom, though considerably less than $3 million.

GOSS indicated that Baak was advanced the amount of $137,000 for him
and his three staff in order to establish a GOSS office and purchase a
vehicle in London.

“Comrade Stephen Madut Baak was also given assistance by GOSS and took loans against his monthly pay LS 200,000.00 (two hundred thousand sterling pounds only) to settle his family and resolve some of his personal problems,” said the GOSS ministry, alluding also to his
health problems.

As it was pointed out by some commentators, the IRS
article plagiarized phrasing directly from unrelated articles written
years ago at The Independent and other news outlets. There likely is no news organization called IRS.

These facts indicate that someone with specific information about
Stephen Madut Bak’s activities fabricated the news article by mixing
general truths with misinformation.

“It is a living historical fact that Comrade Baak is a very senior
person in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), who
served the movement in various capacities with dedication and
diligence,” said the GOSS statement from Juba.

The statement also acknowledged, “Given his health problems, he will
serve from the GOSS Liaison office in London due for official opening
in the early FY 2009.”

“It is true that any amount more than ten thousand sterling pounds
should have been declared at the port of entry to British Customs and
excise according to international practice. This is an admissible
mistake because the money should have been wired using the accounts of the Ministry’s offices abroad,” it continued.

(ST)

27 Comments

  • Lokang
    Lokang

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    Shame on Kiir’s government with the region he came from which is Bahr el gazel, It was first heard from Kuien Chol, Madut Bak and thesame thing happened in the Air port of Sydney in Australia to a wife of Aweetdit carrying a huge sum of money in the bag with out a proper declaration, is that how you people going rule South Sudan with this kind of corruption? do you just wanted to fill up your hungry bellies with our money with out distributing it equally to Southerners? If Kiir doesn’t address this issue carefully , I would rather call for his resignation. Shame

    Reply
  • Lokang
    Lokang

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    What’s going here in Southern Sudan by the way? Are people joking or right things?

    Reply
  • Lokang
    Lokang

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    I see! the controller of this webside is not all that bad,

    Reply
  • Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
    Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    Dinka CULTURE stealing, killing, corruption and barabric act.

    SHAME SHAME ON YOU JUNGLESE

    Reply
  • thomas
    thomas

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    I’m sure this is a misunderstanding. We’ve got to remember that there are many people who have an interest in sowing divisions amongst us. Of course, there are Southerners who need no instigation to sow hate for their personal gain whether money or their ego. To those people; only love will win. Evil will never win.

    People like corrupt politicians, NCP, Al-Bashir, disgraceful SPLA soldiers, or even our fellow citizens like logic are not happy people, and seeing it in others, they aim to destroy it, themselves, and the world with it. “If I can’t be happy, no one else will.” So they spend all day and night plotting all these schemes. Imagine the complex layer of lies that Logic Boy and Al-Bashir are living in. It must be hard keeping track of your assumed identities and lies. But often these people are bright so maybe it’s easy, it’s still a sad waste of time though…

    This is an unrelated matter, but the I think it’s fitting. When Georgia invaded South Ossetia, Putin said this about those who planned the whole thing:

    “Congratulations, congratulations! You did an excellent job. The only problem: your results are poor, and this will always be the case, because the work you do is unfair and immoral. In the long run, immoral policies always lose.”

    To all who hate us and work to destroy us: We love you. You don’t speak for Equatorians.

    Reply
  • J.James
    J.James

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    Shameful show.

    By the way why did we call Khartoum government corrupt, marginalizer, bourgeousie, clique, segregator and other filty names when we are doing even worse than them now.

    I don’t think American, Canadian, Austrialian, Britist or any government from those rich western nations give as much as that amount to one of her officials. That surprise me to the end.

    For real such behaviors make it difficult for the southerners to differentiat between arabs regimes and GOSS under Dinka leadership. And if there is no difference, than why did we fight arabs for 22 years and why should we eager to fight again if arabs are going to dishonor CPA?

    Kiir with his greedy cabinet need to fix it or ruin it for good. And if they choose to ruin it, there will be big price for them to pay later, we are not playing here.

    God bless

    The writer is north south veteran who fought to free all, but things now seem to turn ugly.

    Reply
  • J.James
    J.James

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    Mr. Thomas

    Man I don’t care whether Logic or devil came and talk against corruption in SouthernSudan, true southerners who love this country and the unity of our people will support him/it.

    Remember this corruption is going to divide people more than those who want to divide people in the internet because every creature is create by God to continue living through food, and if some people want to eat while others starve to death, I think nothing will hold this two groups ie the eating group and hungry group together.

    If your comment to the Logic is about his previous comments which I didn’t like some of them too than I will be at your back. But if your comment is about this particular corruption case, I think many southerner will not support you. Mr Thomas some us had suffered a lot during the war, may be you might have suffered too. and if we see anything that tries to divide us and to take us back, some of us are very trouble. Some people include me lost some of their physical feature during the war, anyone who want to play during this tiny time of peace for me is not only criminal but fierce enemy of the south. Kiir who suffered by himself during the war should not bury his head in this little money and forget his country men whom their eyee are always rest on his chest.

    I hope you understand that.

    God bless.

    The writer is the south north veteran who fouhgt to free all but now things seem to turn ugly.

    Reply
  • Kwaje D
    Kwaje D

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    It is time the Government of Self Service (GoSS) rethink and halts the traditional norms that “you lead to eat free.” It is a big shame to the SPLM as a ruling party in Southern Sudan.

    If I ask Minister Marial; what do you call the type of government that advances free money to highly paid individuals? The answer is corruption.

    It is a very big shame. However, calling it a Dinka’s norm is unacceptable. In our Eastern Equatoria, the Speaker was impeached because stealing money. The shame in Western Equatoria, people don’t allow reports on corruption and that is why they report building this or that…. In Central Equatoria, thinks are waste and every one knows this…

    So, it is a Sudanese culture to be corrupt except me.

    Reply
  • Timdor
    Timdor

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    Dear Minister,would you mind clearify what are his personal problems? It is unacceptable just to say that the officer was having problem anf that is why it was given loan.

    It is a true corruption and i would wish Madam Pauline Riak could take her spectacle and joot down his name on that black book and his case is followed throughly so that he has time to go for repentance and join us on Christmas eve!

    Lucky you and enjoy your X-mas with your family because you have pocketed alot.
    By Timdor

    Reply
  • mcthon

    South Sudan discredites corruption rumour of official in UK
    I really do believe that no one would condone such immoral act by the SPLA official, Madut Baak – either Dinkas or those from other tribes. Can you imagine one person simply stealing or making his way out with such huge amount of money, then what is left for the development we keep talking about in Southern Sudan? We are not a rich nation. Southern Sudan is the least developed and the first ranking among God forsaken places in the world in term of everything. We are lacking well equipped health care facilities, no good schools, no good roads etc. It is disappointing and makes no sense at all when South Sudan government officials whom we regard as our role models keep engaging in corruption that way. But at the same time, I hit it when I’m hearing some brothers victimizing other tribes even when such an act wasn’t being committed by the whole tribe. People, when it comes to facing those wrong doers, we need to be Southerners not Equatorians, Dinkas, Nuers etc. Brother, mind your business somewhere else other than in this web site, if you come to promote tribal tensions. Corruption happens in any system of government in the world; Southern is not the first place it is being heard of. I’m saying that because some people here don’t know what they are talking about. They are just overtaken by tribal hatred, thus their main points are not important in dealing with the corruption issue. This corruption problem need be solved soon because it hurting us all. That money could build a better school; it could feed thousands of Southerners who eat less than a dollar meal each day.

    Reply
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