S. Sudan opposition leader doubts gov’t anti-corruption crusade

June 21, 2015 (WAU) -The leader of South Sudan’s newly formed People’s Liberal Party (PLP), Peter Mayen Majongdit has called on the government to empower the country’s anti-graft body to enable it address corruption-related cases in the young nation.

Majongdit was reacting to recent irregularities that emerged in relation to the allocation of letters of credit, which was a subject of investigation by lawmakers.

“You can address corruption if you empower the anticorruption commission with powers to investigate and persecuted independently without reference to the executive”, he said.

“The executive is centre of corruption and this where the anticorruption get orders and refer back the cases with recommendation”, added the opposition party leader.

He described the anti-corruption commission as a “toothless” body that has allegedly failed to prosecute anybody implicated in the theft of public funds meant for the country.

“All cases related to letters of credit should be addressed by anti-corruption commission”.

According to a report from the national assembly, millions were lost as a result of government officials issuing letters of credit to unscrupulous individuals and entities.

NEW HOPE

Majongdit vowed his party would re-establish the anti-corruption commission and and rename it “Anti-corruption and National Integrity Commission” with total independency from executive with powers to investigate and persecute those implicated in scandals.

“Trials of corruption cases shall be aired on state television and other public media and must be as transparent as possible to involve public judgments and opinions,” he stressed.

“Anybody charged will have his or her immunity lifted by the commission, which must have an independent court,” the opposition leader further told Sudan Tribune Sunday.

He pledged his party would ensure good governance with zero tolerance for corruption.

“PLP intends to make it very expensive for corrupt people to live freely and enjoy their loot whether from here or outside South Sudan. Return of the lost funds or equipment with reasonable interest, banning of culprits from holding public offices ranging from 10 years to infinity and life imprisonment shall be some of punishments to be administered to corrupt officials,” said Majongdit.

(ST).