South Sudan’s Kiir determined to prosecute Alor & Manibe if implicated in corruption scandal
June 19, 2013, (JUBA) – South Sudan may arrest and prosecute the two suspended federal ministers charged with requesting and wiring funds without the knowledge of the presidency and other relevant institutions, according to a cabinet minister close to president Salva Kiir.
The presidential order, copy of which was extended to Sudan Tribune, establishes a five-member investigation committee, under the chairperson of anti-corruption commission, Justice John Gatwich Lul, to scrutinize the necessity and legality of the contract endorsed by Alor and Manibe as well as finding out the current whereabouts of the money.
Reacting to the unusual development, a cabinet minister close to the president said he believes the two ministers would be removed from their posts and tried in court if the probe finds sufficient evidence against them.
“They will definitely be dismissed from their positions and prosecuted if the investigation finds that they made the request and transfer without the knowledge of the president and the council of ministers”, a minister told Sudan Tribune under the cover of anonymity at the council of ministers premises.
The two ministers, according to the source, “foolishly” made the decision “in pursuit of personal interest” without involving relevant institutions.
“They did not involve the ministry of justice which is the legal institution which examines legality of the government contracts. They foolishly approved the request in pursuit of personal interest”, said the source.
The source dismissed fears that the president would hesitate in firing them, given their seniority in the government and in the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) from which they hold membership at the 27-member political bureau, the highest organ in the structure of the ruling party.
Similarly, sources at the ministry of finance and economic planning claimed that Manibe awarded a contract to the company for gratification.
“This is not the first time. The minister [Manibe] has always wanted to have all the contracts of supply for things negotiated by him alone without involving the government. At one time he said that he had direct access to chief executive of this company that wanted to help in revamping the structure of the ministry. He was saying it was him who was giving them contracts so they should show appreciation when he [Manibe] was the minister of cabinet affairs,” said the source.
He further claimed most of the officials at the ministry know that Manibe was related to the company’s CEO so it was possible he used his status to transfer the money to his behalf.
“There is evidence that he solicited for gratification from one company where he was supposed to get 40% from the contract. He is actually the shareholder. He also asked for gratification from a company he wanted to help put up the electricity for independence celebration”, a source at the ministry of finance claimed in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Wednesday.
Sources said that they were satisfied the evidence was overwhelming enough to warrant an arrest against Manibe, who when contacted for comment, initially responded: “I am not making any comment at the moment. I am reflecting on what’s happening, what I am about to receive”.
When phoned again over the revelations by some officials at the ministry that he received gratifications from the company, he answered: “No, nothing! That [solicitation] has never happened; not at all”.
Another source at the presidency said Kiir issued the orders to safeguard the national interest and that he believes the two ministers probably received their letters of suspension by now.
“They must have received the suspension letters. The letters went through the system. By this morning the official message must have gone out to them and they are expected to cooperate with the investigation committee the moment it starts its work after taking oath of office, the source told Sudan Tribune also Wednesday.
Meanwhile Deng Alor Kuol said it would be “inappropriate” to comment before the investigation committee completes its findings. However he claimed “some people were trying to bring him down for no apparent reason”.
“I think it will be inappropriate to make any comment now before the committee completes its findings. I know the public wants to know what happened but I think it is better they wait”, Alor told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday without giving additional information.
One of his aides claimed the money has already been returned, stressing that the minister had informed the president about the need for fire safety equipment to protect key government institutions with valuable information including the office of the president.
“It is not true that the president was not informed. The minister was acting on the resolution of the council of ministers which approved the purchase of fire safety equipment last year. You know that there was an incident of fire at the presidential palace and at the SPLM national secretariat”, he said.
ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL SCANDALS
Highly placed sources at the ministry of finance claimed misappropriation of additional funds by the suspended minister of finance, Kosti Manibe.
“I think it is the God who gave the president this courage. I say so because a lot of things have happened and nothing was done. No action was taken even for those we have expected the president to have reacted like the payment of 40 million South Sudan Pounds to the people who claimed to have delivered grains.”
These claims are part of the dura saga which the government had suspended payment until the result of the investigation by the ministry of justice proves that they actually delivered the grains, he further said.
He alleged that Manibe paid himself a sum of 440,000 SSP to acquire household furniture, generating commotion in the ministry and subsequently prompted internal reshuffle.
“Sincerely speaking, the recent changes in the ministry were an attempt to cover the embezzlement of 8 million US dollars which was transferred into a private bank account in Nairobi. The person withdrew 1 million dollars in just one day after receiving the money and requested to take the balance of $ 7 million in the second day. This raised suspicions from the Kenyan government which notified the central bank where the discussion went to the higher level until the money was eventually returned”, he explained.
South Sudan has been struggling to set up functioning state institutions since gaining independence from Khartoum in July 2011 under a peace deal that ended the civil war.
The government is largely made up of former rebel commanders who dislike scrutiny and have little experience of economic management. Financial oversight is weak.
Samuel Dhong, secretary-general of the South Sudan Law Society, which promotes the rule of law, welcomed the suspensions but said it remained to be seen whether the men would be charged.
“We have experienced this kind of action, but the problem is that they don’t reach a logical conclusion at the end of the day,” he told Reuters.
(ST)