WBGS apprehends two people over illicit money trading

By Ngor Arol Garang

February 9, 2010 (KHARTOUM) — Authorities from southern state of western Bahr el Ghazal have on Tuesday, arrested two people suspected to have been involved in illegal money trading.

The arrests are part of the campaign to end the illegal activity in which people have lost money and property to loan sharks, said state government official spokesperson and minister of information and communications Effesio Kon Uguak during an interview with press in Wau today.

“It is not a one-day campaign but it is a campaign that is ongoing. It will go on until those involved are found and disciplined by law to end such practice,” he said.

Uguak further stated that illegal money trading is prohibited by law adding they will be charged with trading money illegally and confiscating people’s properties and goods.

He also disputed claims that arrested people were found licensed and were known business people in the town. “They did not show any document at the time of their arrest nor have they been able to present any relevant paper at the request by investigating authorities,” he stressed.

He further stated that, the arrested people did not have operating licenses hence contravening number of articles in the state constitution which states that only recognized and licensed financial institutions and banks will be allowed to conduct any money transactions or money related businesses.

He called upon the public to help government in exposition of those involved in the illegal practice saying that police and banks are determined to crackdown on these individuals.

They should know that there is a law that punishes this act; he said adding that the reason why police is emphasizing the fight against this act is because it has been a source of conflict and sometimes even death.

“People sells faked money to customers and once return after notification of having received wrong money, they are denied by the same people who sold it to them,” he said.

“Not only this, but this practice itself affects the monetary policy of any country. They charge high interest rates which exceed those set by the central bank and at the end of the day rip-off their victims of their hard-earned money,” he adds.

He said the suspects whose names were not disclosed to the media will be prosecuted after thorough investigations and charges are preferred against them.

In December last year, GOSS minister of internal affairs; General Chuang Aluong issued strong and an uncompromising warning to those involved in the act but said that regional government would only license those who meet the requirements.

In Juba over the past years, many suspects involved in the scheme had been arrested in a major sweep across the town particularly at former custom market close to Dr. John Garang Museum.

A person practicing similar business identified as Kenyan national was also found in Jonglei State capital of Bor, in months leading to the late of last year.

(ST)