South Sudan says lifting immunity not automatic indictment of corruption
3 views
Skip to first unread message
Elisabeth Janaina
Jun 24, 2013, 9:24:36 AM6/24/13
to
South Sudan says lifting immunity not automatic indictment of corruption
Article
Comments (92)
email Email
print Print
pdfSave
separation
increase
decrease
separation
separation
facebook
myspace
twitter
buzzyahoo
June 22, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan said on Saturday that the
suspension and lifting immunity of two federal ministers, suspected of
involvement in the alleged illicit request and transfer of public
funds without the knowledge of the president, must not be seen as an
automatic indictment of corruption.
JPEG - 79 kb
South Sudan Justice Minister John Luk Jok (thenile/pascal ladu)
“By law, they are not accused of any corruption and the public ought
to be clearly enlightened and adequately informed about this
constitutional provision. Suspending and lifting immunities does not
mean automatic indictment of corruption", South Sudan’s justice
minister John Luk Jok told reporters on Saturday..
Jok said that the measures were taken "to afford an opportunity to
clear the allegations or establish a fact of what actually happened."
The minister was reacting to media reports on president Salva Kiir’s
recent order regarding the minister of cabinet affairs, Deng Alor
Kuol, and the minister of finance and economic planning, Kosti Manibe
Ngai.
It is alleged that the two high profile figures requested and approved
the transfer of $8 million to purchase fire safety equipment without
the knowledge of relevant institutions.
Jok implored upon the media to show objectivity and avoid reporting
negative and hateful comments on the case.
PUBLIC REACTION
William Wel, a member of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state legislative
assembly currently in Juba, commended the decision taken by Kiir and
asked the national parliament and general public to stand by the
president in order to successfully win the fight against corruption.
“The decision by the president is commendable. He should be encouraged
and should not hesitate pressing ahead. This is the only way to see
the light of development, especially if we want to survive as [a]
strong and viable state. We must do something extremely serious about
corruption, which is the road our president seems to take. He must be
supported”, said Wel.
The legislator said development would take place only “if the
government shows it can punish whoever steals, whoever takes public
funds from the treasury without the knowledge of the relevant
institutions, whether it is in the local government, state or at the
national”.
Charles Majak, a national member of parliament in Juba from Warrap
state, stated that officials accused of corruption must be given the
opportunity to clear their names in court.
“We should not sympathise with those who have taken public money. We
should encourage them to abide by the requirements spelled out in the
constitution, the law in respect of this country," he said explaining
the governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has the
responsibility to clearly show that it is committed to promote good
governance and combat corruption.
“We are shouldering the heavy task bestowed by the history and going
through the test of the times. We must uphold the principles for which
this party [SPLM] was founded. It was founded on the democratic ideals
which advocates promotion of good practices for the public good and
that it exercises state power for the public, surprise our conduct and
this country with strict disciplines" he said.
"Those in public office should show exemplary role. We must be modest
and prudent, defy difficulties and work hard, bury ourselves in the
work and forge ahead with the determination so as to achieve new,
greater victory in completing the building of a moderately prosperous
society in all respects”, Majak explained separately in an interview
with Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
Ladu James Laku, a local administrative officer with the Central
Equatoria State government appreciated Kiir’s decision but added that
he was not sure whether the officials would be prosecuted if proven
guilty by the investigation committee formed by the president.
“I was not surprised by the order because we have seen similar orders
before. You are aware of the case of the first minister of finance,
Arthur Akuien Chol and his successor, Kuol Athian Mawien. They were
removed from their positions which the public saw as the right
decision in the right direction to fight corruption but what happened.
Committees for investigation were formed but did we see any light. Was
there any result. No. So this is the problem”, said Laku.
He said the public would never believe that the former officials were
innocent as long as the debate did not extend to Parliament from which
the result would have been extended to court and the general public.
“They may be innocent but in the public eyes they are still be accused
of corruption. So it would have been important to prove their being
innocent at the court. Their innocence should have tested against the
evidence that would be provid
Article
Comments (92)
email Email
print Print
pdfSave
separation
increase
decrease
separation
separation
myspace
buzzyahoo
June 22, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan said on Saturday that the
suspension and lifting immunity of two federal ministers, suspected of
involvement in the alleged illicit request and transfer of public
funds without the knowledge of the president, must not be seen as an
automatic indictment of corruption.
JPEG - 79 kb
South Sudan Justice Minister John Luk Jok (thenile/pascal ladu)
“By law, they are not accused of any corruption and the public ought
to be clearly enlightened and adequately informed about this
constitutional provision. Suspending and lifting immunities does not
mean automatic indictment of corruption", South Sudan’s justice
minister John Luk Jok told reporters on Saturday..
Jok said that the measures were taken "to afford an opportunity to
clear the allegations or establish a fact of what actually happened."
The minister was reacting to media reports on president Salva Kiir’s
recent order regarding the minister of cabinet affairs, Deng Alor
Kuol, and the minister of finance and economic planning, Kosti Manibe
Ngai.
It is alleged that the two high profile figures requested and approved
the transfer of $8 million to purchase fire safety equipment without
the knowledge of relevant institutions.
Jok implored upon the media to show objectivity and avoid reporting
negative and hateful comments on the case.
PUBLIC REACTION
William Wel, a member of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state legislative
assembly currently in Juba, commended the decision taken by Kiir and
asked the national parliament and general public to stand by the
president in order to successfully win the fight against corruption.
“The decision by the president is commendable. He should be encouraged
and should not hesitate pressing ahead. This is the only way to see
the light of development, especially if we want to survive as [a]
strong and viable state. We must do something extremely serious about
corruption, which is the road our president seems to take. He must be
supported”, said Wel.
The legislator said development would take place only “if the
government shows it can punish whoever steals, whoever takes public
funds from the treasury without the knowledge of the relevant
institutions, whether it is in the local government, state or at the
national”.
Charles Majak, a national member of parliament in Juba from Warrap
state, stated that officials accused of corruption must be given the
opportunity to clear their names in court.
“We should not sympathise with those who have taken public money. We
should encourage them to abide by the requirements spelled out in the
constitution, the law in respect of this country," he said explaining
the governing Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has the
responsibility to clearly show that it is committed to promote good
governance and combat corruption.
“We are shouldering the heavy task bestowed by the history and going
through the test of the times. We must uphold the principles for which
this party [SPLM] was founded. It was founded on the democratic ideals
which advocates promotion of good practices for the public good and
that it exercises state power for the public, surprise our conduct and
this country with strict disciplines" he said.
"Those in public office should show exemplary role. We must be modest
and prudent, defy difficulties and work hard, bury ourselves in the
work and forge ahead with the determination so as to achieve new,
greater victory in completing the building of a moderately prosperous
society in all respects”, Majak explained separately in an interview
with Sudan Tribune on Saturday.
Ladu James Laku, a local administrative officer with the Central
Equatoria State government appreciated Kiir’s decision but added that
he was not sure whether the officials would be prosecuted if proven
guilty by the investigation committee formed by the president.
“I was not surprised by the order because we have seen similar orders
before. You are aware of the case of the first minister of finance,
Arthur Akuien Chol and his successor, Kuol Athian Mawien. They were
removed from their positions which the public saw as the right
decision in the right direction to fight corruption but what happened.
Committees for investigation were formed but did we see any light. Was
there any result. No. So this is the problem”, said Laku.
He said the public would never believe that the former officials were
innocent as long as the debate did not extend to Parliament from which
the result would have been extended to court and the general public.
“They may be innocent but in the public eyes they are still be accused
of corruption. So it would have been important to prove their being
innocent at the court. Their innocence should have tested against the
evidence that would be provid
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages