Senior S. Darfur officials accused of impeding fraud probe

December 24, 2015 (NYALA) – A high – level official in South Darfur state government Thursday has accused senior officials in the state’s ministry of finance of protecting employees who usurped 1,7 million Sudanese pounds via the creation of fake jobs in the ministry of agriculture over five years time.

The official , who requested not to be named , told Sudan Tribune that the investigation committee assigned by the finance ministry’s general director Hussein Omer had proved the involvement of 19 employees in creating 72 fake jobs , cashing vast sums as a result.

He said the investigation committee report has revealed that each of these officials embezzled public money.

He said the investigation committee had strictly recommended the relegation of those officials to the prosecutor and the refunding of all the sums they took.

“Theses officials should receive the toughest of punishments in order to deter others,’’ he stressed.

He said the investigation committee had filed its report on 22 November , but the Ministry of Finance did not pass that report to the prosecutor until now.

The official has expressed his fear that ‘’deals might have been struck ‘’ between the culprits and influential figures in the Ministry of Finance.

He warned against possible geographical or partisan interests behind the delay, urging the prosecutor to intervene and take over the issue.

The finance ministry’s director has suspended 19 employees and has frozen their payments until further notice.

(ST)