S. Sudan’s Secretary General responds to embezzlement allegations

By Ngor Arol Garang

February 12, 2012 (JUBA) – The secretary general of South Sudan’s governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Pagan Amum, has denied allegations that he embezzled US $30 million from the ministry of finance.

Speaking to reporters at Juba International airport prior to his departure for Addis Ababa to participate in post-secession talks with Khartoum, Amum said he would take the former minister of finance, who made the accusations, to court.

On February 9th Arthur Akuien Chol, a former minister of finance in the then regional government of Southern Sudan, accused Amum of receiving funds from the ministry into his private account.

At a press conference on 9 February Chol showed journalists what he claimed were receipts detailing the transfer of funds from his ministry to Amum’s personal account.

“When did he transfer this money to my account and to which account did he use to transfer it? Which date and what documents does he have?” Amum asked in a statement denying the allegations published on Sunday. 

According to the former minister, he was only involved in making approvals after instructions were issued from “above” concerning government spending.

(ST)