South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
April 9, 2011 (KAMPALA) – The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) recovered money belonging to students, fraudulently channelled to personal account in 2009 after a long court battle in Uganda’s Anti-Corruption Court last week.
Court papers seen by the Sudan Tribune indicate that Felix Clive Arim Oceng, a Uganda national, had US$323, 060 wired to his bank account between 15 June and 14 July, 2009 intended for South Sudanese students studying in Uganda.
The GoSS Liaison to Uganda then tried in vain to withdraw the cash for distribution to students. He was unsuccessful and brought Arim Oceng to court. Oceng worked in Juba for MoEST at the time, he was entrusted with the cash but not entitled to carry out the transaction on behalf of the GoSS Liaison office to Uganda.
According to court documents, Oceng said the money he received belonged to him because he had done work at the GoSS ministry about streamlining the payment of tuition fees for their students in Uganda amounting to US$725,000 and that the US$323,060 was just half payment. However, evidence provided by witnesses, including the banks where transactions were made, proved to the court that Oceng stole the money.
NO MERCY
“Though the convict [Oceng] is first offender, according to the prosecution, he deserves a deterrent sentence for abusing the trust put in him by GoSS,” said Nasambu, the magistrate.
The Uganda court defended its decision by noting that Oceng – who is an Information Technology graduate from the University of Greenwich (UK), had not acted in a good faith by stealing money meant for students’ tuition fees saying, “He did not show mercy to these students [,] why then should the court show mercy to him?”
The count sentenced Oceng to 60 months for theft under article 261 of Uganda’s Penal Code Act. He was also handed another 60 months for receiving stolen property under the penal court. Both sentences will run concurrently.
He is also ordered to return the remaining US $133,060 to the MoEST since he had already refunded US$190,000.
GoSS VICTORIOUS
The GoSS Liaison head officer at the Education Attaché to Uganda, Lual Akol Nhial, calls the ruling a “victory” and a lesson in the recruitment of foreign nationals in sensitive positions.
“We feel we are very victorious [for] having won a high profile case in a foreign country,” he said.
“We must be careful with [foreign] people who are in charge of affairs [in South Sudan]. What I have personal learnt is that it was not easy to follow. It was very rough but the government [of South Sudan] was committed and together we emerged victorious,” he added.
Nhial appreciated the neutrality of the Uganda Anti-Corruption Court for what he describes as “no sense of biasness in seeing issues.” Nhial also called upon the Anti-Corruption Court of Uganda for continued cooperation until the money is fully recovered from Oceng.
Lawyers for the accused, who is now in a jail in Kampala, have launched an appeal for the sentence to be overturned.
(ST)
Hero
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Sound fair enough! A good lesson to those corrupt individuals who’ve worked with GOSS and also to those who are still working in the GOSS administration now, that it’s a matter of time, and they will be caught and held to account for their conducts.Also, much thank goes to those who have worked around the clock to get these mony back.Moreover, it would be even nicer for the GOSS to do the same thing here at home with those thugs and corrupt-minded individual who are ruining our future just for their own greed instead of working for us.Otherwise, I hope our people will gradually learned to be faithful, but someone must show leadership in all these cases.
maumau
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Well done Uganga court
I wish our courts act this may so that we recover our looted money which is always sent/Siphoned to foreign banks by GoSS officials. We can do it only if our courts and the so-called Anti-Corruption Commission learnt to work with transparency and neutrality. MAUMAU
mathem jech amer
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Very good lesson to those Ministers employing foreigners in sensitive posts.
Please continue employing foreigners and you will experience the same.
Have anyone of you saw any Sudanese employs in Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia or any other countries or even given a piece of land to carry out his’her business?
Omoni jr
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
The question is ,who let the foreigners to take very sensitive post who that? That position is supposed to given to only honest and trusted south sudan citizens.
This Government os south sudan is so useless,how come you put a foreigner to sit on top of us!!!!
Oceng must to be release immediately,he is very innocent foreigner,just by other big belly generals in Juba.
how about millions of dollar taken by hyenas residing in Juba, who gonna follow them?? Too many people have been caught with millions of cash in their suitcase ,so, when are we going to bring them to table?
Just release that boy immediately….
amon
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Even those who are taking others to court deserve to be taken to court as well, because they use most of the money for their own benefits without proper accountability and most of the students are not even getting this so called GOSS money.
They consider other students to be better than others, they took the lists of students from some schools stumped it and sent them to Juba as paid while they sue the money for themselves. Come and see them driving very expensive cars here and you will wonder where they get this money from, or how much do they earn per month to buy such cars in a very short time while in the office.
Let’s also take those national thieves in GOSS to court one day to answer for those lost development funds. What victory in the foreign country when we fail to get such victory at home against those thieves, when shall we also start praising our courts like this,nonsense, rubbish.
Mwoi
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Hey Omoni jr,
Who told you a law has its relative or friend?
Regardless of whether this man is a foreigner or not he must face the law for his unfaithfulness.
When it comes to those whom you said they have not been brought to justice.
The law with catch up with them soon, it is due to insufficient evidences that exonerate them.
Omoni jr
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
@ Amon,
am with you brother,when i was studied in uganda,kenya,and Tanzania,i never get any help from so called GOSS/Ghosh .
There are some special people or students that deserve to use GOSS money,but not all regions in south sudan.
Anyway, there is time for everything,time make a really baby and time to playing with your girlfriend.
AUGUSTINO DENG
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
The person who steals that huge amount of money is from Nuer tribe, otherwise, if not, then he was with Nuer people in Kampala and that is where he learns how to loot and dwindle money in unnecessary way. There is no doubt in this.
Shame on him.
By Augustino Deng. Jech la mer from Tharpam.
Cibaipiath Junub Sudan
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Dear readers, I want to tell Mr. Augustino that he shuold not diverge the commenters from making a constructive and meaningful comments for our leaders or ministers to understand a lesson of employing foreigners in sensitive position. It is very clear here and no any southern Sudanese mentioned as a collaborator in this criminal act.
Does Awut Deng Acuil- Minister of Labour and Public Service aware of this criminal Act? I asked this question because she had requested and actually had recently contracted over 200 foreigners in South Sudan and most of them are Kenyans.
Therefore, if there are collaborators in such acts they will not be far from Minsters. They are bringing foreigners as an exit windows to steal money.
Ocheng must be proved as a thief. His lawyers are also to be sentenced to imprisonment for 120 Months because they are making a defend because that remaining balance of money is with them because Ocheng paid them to defend him in the court of Law.
I thank the Court of Uganda for being fair and just. Our relation with Uganda shall continue and i want the same spirit to be conducted in South Sudan. There is also a need to assess Minsiters account. Our Anti-corruption commission have failed to do their best. Same cases are happening in the South.
Fearless man
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
That is right brother Nuer like to point their finger on other people but leave their wrong doing such as nyagatism and corruption in their history, nyagatiem looting, steling is their destiny
Born to Achieve
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Amon.
I salut you.
This is a foolish act by the GOSS to entrust a foreigner with such a sensitive position.
So you prefer a ugandan to lead the Southern Sudanese student affairs in uganda than a Southern Sudanese citizen?why leaving your own citizen out who would have led the post faithfully.
So how it feels now that your trust has been in vain?hope you have learnd a good lesson from this shamfull incident..!
Morever what victory are you talking about? Your effort cannot be entitled as a victory untill you returne every stolen money including what our leaders have stolen which we really know that its belong to the publice.
Think positive.
maumau
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Leave Nuer alone, this case is far from them. Its on a Ugandan who probably may be acholi or jophadola. MAUMAU
Fearless man
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
yah maumau
stay out of south sudan affair since the names maumau is nothing to do with our sudan problem. maumau is not sudanese style, Nuer are known for such bad act is the histories of mankind, they can denail it but we knew who are they interm of thinking capablity,
amon
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
@Fearless man and Augutino Geng
Why do you want to divert the attention of the people from this topic with by imposing your natural hatred to words Nuer?
There is no Nuer in liaison Kampala dealing with students affairs, don’t you know that most of thieves in GOSS are your uncles, fathers and brothers? leave Nuer alone they are not thieves, arrogant and corrupted like you (Dinkas).
You pretend to be also educated by buying diplomas,degrees and masters certificates from the market, I can compare your degree holder to a primary school Equatorian boy. Can you imagine some one in the university can still fight like those in primary, which change and knowledge are they getting from the campus? Nonsense.
william
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
First and foremost, I would like to appeal to corruption commission which had formed last year to dig out exactly who was the employer of that thef and he/she should be extradited to the chamber of justice too, for further explanation for him or her being masterminder for that attempt of embezzlment.Not only that man who had caught red handed but most public servant are foreigners. However, the Chamber of labor must be responsible for fruadulent despite it is not the one employing foreigners, then it is its negligence.Eventually, this nepotic and hand picking employment has resulted now to deprivation of southern sudanese people by foreigners!! what a shit???
Jada Lotole
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Attention my brothers !
This is to serve GoSS Right ! Quote : “Felix Clive Arim Oceng, a Uganda national….”
GoSS has eyes but cant see ! GoSS has ears but cant hear ! GoSS has sense but it often misuses it ! GoSS will one day plunge this Nation into a fathomless hole if it dosnt cease employing very corrupt foregners ! And one day GoSS will fail to control we the expoited citizens of S.Sudan when we go out to the streets of Juba to do it the “South African Way ”
As for the liason officer,winning this case,Is Not A Victory In Anyways! This is rather “a rescue of a desperate blindfolded man from terrible jaws of a mad dog that he fed himself” GoSS should get to avoid underestimating the South Sudanese leanrt folks who are loitering in the streets of South Sudan with no jobs and yet many jobs today are dished out to foreigners who even never had a single contribution to the freedom that we fairly enjoy today ! For your information, These jobless Southern Citizens are more like ” A time bomb” when they explode, ……..
Murle Intellectual
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
GoSS will soon become JOZ which means Jonkoz Operation Zone where non-South Sudanese are given jobs rightfully belonging to the people of South Sudan Republic. This will lead to the ‘ugly tribal war’ in South Sudan created by jonkoz saturating GoSS and plotting for mass genocides. All those so-called South Sudanese in Uganda, paid by GoSS, are mostly Jonkoz. This is a corruption case too
Abugurunchol
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
very good to those who followed the theif of our money and schame to person who employe him in GOSS lovol.persuade the thief but takecare to him, he is not alone my friend.there must be somethig behind,becarefull wiht big fish.
Lat Dak Nyaroah
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Augustino,
My friend your comments are always out of topics. What is that unfinished Business between you with Nuer? Don’t behave like Murle Intellectual whose comments are always about dinkas. Please,reform.
Thanks
Lo Isu
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
I hope Josephine Lagu will finally be acquitted of this case, after all she didn’t wire the money to Ocieng’s account.
GOSS must cease from its attitude of under rating south Sudan professionals in preference for foreigners. Sincerely, how can we graduate from the same campuses with this foreigners only for them to come here and be referred to as expatriates.
We all know that old folks who are past their retirement age are determined to keep foreigners in their offices so as to conceal their corrupt tendencies. They believe employing Southerners will tantamount to their exposure. They should note this “what goes around comes around”.
Thomas Andrew Hissen
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Mr Augustino Deng, always your comments is only directly to Nuer, What do you want from Nuer Tribe Please tell us we the Nuer people can know that you have problem with us, I know you are probably from Dinka this is why you are focusing on Nuer only, Please these forum is opening to all sudanese to express what ever is impairs them,
To challeges the goverment on other issue which the goverment will not tackal them out,
Concern this guys who steal these money of the student who are stufying in Ugandan is not a Sudanese or Nuer he is a Uganda by nationality whose the blame will come to GOSS especail to the Minitry of the education in GOSS level did very big crimes of recruiting foreigners to high position in GOSS LEVEL,
We are urguing the Human Resourse in the Ministry of High Education goverment of south sudan GOSS to sue these personel who recruited foreigner to sensetive and confidential place to the court,
One thing all those student who are stugying in Uganda are all Dinka and few of them are Nuer which is also a corrupte act which was pratices by GOSS,
kumkan
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Augustino or idiot,
Nuer are well known in the entire South Sudan for their faithfulness. They are fighter and not a stealer as you phrassed. Since 2005 right after the CPA was signed, Dinka were the one who stole money intended for the entire southerner for their own good. Southerner are not born today so you cannot lie to them about who were the corruptees, they know how Dinka misused the money. A good example of this would be Arthur Akuen of Dinka Bharka…., Dr. Garang and Nyandeng along with his young officer who he sent to study in foreign countries. Few has bought houses in Western world so do not open this chapter again son.
Nuer are worriors were not after the money and food like you the Dinka. The history of who stole what in the Goss is known so do not lie to us here.
July 9,2011, so keep eating and we will kill all of you when time comes. Who doesn’t know about how you mishandle the goss money for your own good. You are about some soldier who is getting paid and those who does not get pay. There will be no none of this and there is no Uganda to run too like some has done in 1991. This time around we will make sure that there is no one who would escape the death chamber when we cleance the entire Dinka.No baby,women, and old one, all will be going to burn in hell.
The 1991 occurred to certain section of Dinka, but this time around we will make sure that it goes to the entire Dinka so keep eating while we loading our gun for the last fight.
kumkan
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Everything happening for a reason and might be this would be a lesson to learn so the Goss would not put their truth foreigner born. Mr.Ocing has set an of why we should not truth the outsider. As we begin to settle our country, foreigner begin to take the disadvantage of not knowing how to handle the money. Bankers need to be faithful not release these hugh sum to corruptees. Mr.Ocing was not the only one, he probably does this with help from other who had done this before. I’m sure there are some who stole more sum than what he done.
majok akol
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
now can gov’t of s.Sudan learn the lesson that if a foreign national channel this amount to his account,then what about the national who are in the same office with him? there is need to prosecute his (prosecutor mr lual akol) because he is not safe.and am giving warning to you mr lual do not keep this money in your account give them to the students since it was meant for them we are watching you Mr. cheat those students and next time will be worse for you.
better learn.
AUGUSTINO DENG
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Hey Mr Kumkan,
Thank you for your comment. In fact, I don’t understand when you say that “Nuer are well known in the entire South Sudan for their faithfulness.” “They are fighter and not a stealer as you phrased.” Well, in my own way in which experience Nuer’s culture, Nuer are actually fighter when there is a food or anything which can generated the life so good. That is what I knows from Nuer plus looting, stealing and lack of perseverance in their hearts. It is a shame to say this.
I do remember back in the day when our family was living in Nyiromni village, Bilber village, Duar village, and Biel as well as Tharkuer of Nuer-Bull, our life was really bad, especially in Nyiromni village of Nuer Leek when our 50 cows were stolen for goods and the one who had stolen my father’s cows was our neighbor named Mr GATLUAK JOK from Nuer Leek. I knows this, and it is not a jok. As a reality, to stay with Nuer person is better than Arabs who is our enemies. All Nuer people acted likes “crickets” which always make noises at night in the house, and when you come near them, they will be quiet, but when you leaves, they will start over making noise. That is actually the way I considered the entire Nuer people whether already been born or unborn. The only thing that I knows also from Nuer is that, they likes to fulfill their stomacks, but they don’t about some one’s life. What kind of community is that?
In fact, I am not happy with Nuer people, and at the same time, I will not stop cursing them until the make some changes to themselves.
On December 14,2008, our Dinka Ruweng Community Chief of Biemnom County named Thorarieu was killed by Nuer people in Ruweng and right now there is no any investigation being carried out. Then, on January 14, 2011, Nuer people emerged in Biemnom County of Dinka Ruweng Community and burned three houses at night and run away. In this way, how can Nuer people claim that they are the victory and the figure of Sudan, while their motives is to lives on others’ people properties? Big community, but dare of foods.
Yen Nyingnguol Nueri titi chiah jeh puch rei Junub Sudan keh liiu. Hah nguh chiah rotdun lah rielkeh chieh nei thangkien tokon teh rei Sudan?
Shame on you.
By Augustino Deng. Jech la mer from Tharpam.
AUGUSTINO DENG
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Hey Mr Amon,
I advised you brother to stay away from this. I loves your comment so much, but Nuer people are the most fooled people with artificial hearts. They worked for the causes always, but they don’t work for something which can bring life to others people. After all, thanks for your comment and stay in touch in anytime I commented. Anytime I wrote a comment and you feels that there is something that you don’t likes, you have a right to tell me or advise me for what I should have to change. I welcomes everyone comment.
Thanks
By Augustino Deng. Jech la mer from Tharpam.
harry
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Dear Lo Isu,
Ugandans are still Ugandans even when they studied at London! I agree, those old folks don’t get it, but our time will come and we’ll make changes that would bring accountability and justice when employing Southerners. Thanks
Harry,
AUGUSTINO DENG
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Dear Mr Thomas Andrew,
You will not understand my comment until I placed the food in front of you and other Nuer people. I don’t have any problem with Nuer people, but Nuer people are they people who have problems with other communities in Southern Sudan.
Your characters are really bad. Look, On December 14, 2008, Nuer people emerged in cattle camp and killed one of our Dinka Ruweng Community of Biemnom County just because of cows which are animals. Then, on January 2011, Nuer came to Ruweng land of Biemnom County and burned two houses for no reason and then run away. There are so many things, but just to mention some few examples to know and why Nuer people are hatred by the other communities in Sudan. In this way Mr.Thomas Andrew, how can we trust Nuer in general? Believe me or not, there is something wrong in all Nuer hearts.
Why Nuer people are known for stealing, looting and taking things for other people by force always? Think about it.
By Augustino Deng. Jech la mer from Tharpam.
Haak
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Dear readers i personally appreciate Lual Akol for tirelessly following this case all along. Beside, i think the GOSS need to learn lesson from this incident.
thanks
DeltaBravo
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
To Murle or Lokoz
ahahahahahah it is really funny the way you put it. Anyway Iam Jonkoz as you mention,but i dnt think the GOSS is run by Jonkoz alone we supposed to leave Tribalism behind and let focus on our new Nation. I don’t believe in Tribalism. i treat brothers and Sisters equally without any doubt. I hope you will change your mind on tribal base.
marie
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
This is the real culprit and his accomplices who stole the money, unfortunately Josephine Lagu, the daughter of Joseph Lagu became the scapegoat. She was innocently relieved from her post leaving those who gave the money to the thief at lose.
Thomas Andrew Hissen
South Sudan wins court case in Uganda
Dear Reute Its very sorrow to the GOSS, The Ministry of High Education Why do the Government of South Sudan Build Primary School and Secondary School and University/ Institute/ college Insight South Sudan so that the student should study here in their Home country?
In Economic said that the circular of money mostly is going out side south sudan Amazing these big huge amount of Dollars is deverter to The Govermnet of Uganda to develop the country, this is why south sudan assentail fail to tackal the problem of inflution in the region,
Mr Oliver all south sudan have approciated what you did the south sudan as the history which can be rem,
When I visit Kampala last year my friend have saw me the family of all this Minister of south sudan must of them are stay in Kampala render big story house, Really is this the goverment where by the minister transfer his/ her family to other country state of building your country who come from war, I really got shock that time and my heart is paint for what this even are taking place, these leader should change their mined and build these nation,
Thomas Andrew From UK,