S. Sudan cabinet decries corruption allegations at finance ministry
November 28, 2014 (JUBA) – South Sudan cabinet on Friday decried the corruption allegations at the finance ministry, a day after its minister vowed tough measures against the practice.
Sabuni was reacting after recent media reports quoted an unnamed source at the presidency pining two senior finance officials at the finance ministry for alleged involvement in corruption practices.
The minister, in his statement, neither confirmed nor denied the allegations, with multiple reliable sources saying Sabuni had held a number of closed door meetings with president over the matter.
A presidential aide told Sudan Tribune that president Salva Kiir had already received security reports showing evidences that the deputy director for accounts and the acting director general at the finance ministry allegedly received 50,000 South Sudanese pounds as bribe.
Another source at the cabinet affairs ministry and secretariat general of the government separately said that cabinet expressed “deep concerns and disappointments” and argued the minister with relevant authorities and institutions to “take immediate actions”.
“Most of the cabinet ministers at the council meeting today [Friday] were outraged by the allegations and have asked the minister with the help of other relevant authorities and institutions, like anti-corruption commission and the security to investigate this alarming allegation and take immediate action”, said the source, one of those involved in taking cabinet meeting minutes.
“This is a serious and complicated allegation, especially that there are claims of evidence”, he added.
According to another finance official, Moses Wol, the deputy director for accounts, is in Grade 7 of the public service salary structure and earns a monthly salary of not more than 2000 SSP.
He [Wol] drives a car valued at 650,000 SSP and lives in one of the most expensive hotels, the unnamed finance ministry official claims.
“I am a senior official. My monthly salary is twice the salary of the deputy director for accounts, but I am surprised that he [Wol] is living an expensive life. He lives in one of the most expensive hotels here in Juba. This is [not] an allegation. It is a fact. Go to Crown hotel where he lives in room 204. He pays more than 300 dollars a day and you need to check your facts with the hotel management”, the official told Sudan Tribune.
Crown hotel management indeed confirmed having a client named Moses Wol, but declined to divulge details on how much the latter pays daily.
PUBLIC REACTIONS
Santino Majok, a native of Warrap state, said what happened was just a tip of iceberg of the big schemes that have gone unreported in various government institutions, explaining that it would take the country to launch another journey and war to liberate the masses from corruption by liberators.
“I do not blame the minister for the corruption allegation; neither do I believe in the conspiracy theory that the government or its key officers at the ministry. But he can’t be exonerated from responsibility, given the huge amount funds at the disposal of the officials without strong consequences for misappropriation of public funds”, said Majok.
Abraham Alier, a native of Jonglei state, said he was not surprised by the financial allegation in government because there have been alarming cases with strong evidence before, but no actions taken.
“Until now, people do not know how the famous story of Arthur Akuien Chol and Pagan Amum ended, not to mention the Dura or grain saga in addition to Deng Alor and Kosti Manibe which played a role in the current conflict”, Alier said on Friday.
Charles Wani, an official with the national ministry of education, said corruption in the country was becoming a practice that even young people now try forging academic credentials for scholarships.
“I wasn’t surprised. Fraud has become a national pastime in South Sudan that if you’re ethical and upright, you’re called stupid. If you’re ruthless, greedy and cunning, you get praised as a national hero”, Wani told Sudan Tribune at the ministry’s premises.
“I remember the first time I stared corruption in the face. It was 2008, and I was part of the government committee responsible for selecting students with strong academic credential for international scholarships. We discovered that a group of 18-year-old boy, who a son of one of the cabinet minister, had forged his exam records to become eligible for a scholarship to South Africa,” he added.
Wani further said no action was taken, yet he informed the committee chairperson, until information reached the South African university, which eventually disqualified the South Sudanese student.
“When this information reached and it was verified, the whole scholarship was canceled, depriving other students the opportunity because someone did not want to act”, he stressed.
“From that time, I have never been surprised of corruption allegation whenever I hear”.
John Kuc, senior lawyer and human rights activist, urged citizens not to allow people tainted with corruption allegation, because they are not committed to eradicating corruption in the country.
“Such people should not be appointed to any public institutions whatsoever. They have a track record as public servant not committed to corruption eradication. So, don’t choose them again, however qualified they may be,” Kuc, a conservative lawyer, said.
“I don’t believe people are naive. I believe people are sophisticated. They know that there’s going to be corruption in government, that there’s always been corruption in government, but they want to know that there is a system in place and somebody is watching,” he added.
An anti-corruption campaign is currently underway to arrest officials, including those loyal to the ruling party (SPLM), over corruption.
Last month, president Kiir urged officials attending the governors’ forum to abide by party disciplines, manage their relatives and staff by reframing from power abuse.
(ST)