Kiir directs investigation committee to "establish truth" over stolen money
Article Comments (17) Email Print Save ________________________________ April 18, 2013 (JUBA) - South Sudan president Salva Kiir Mayardit had directed a committee, which he appointed on April 12 to investigate funds stolen from his office, to go further than his original decree. South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir addresses a joint news conference with his Sudan’s counterpart Omer Al-Bashir in Juba April 12, 2013. (Reuters) "There is no doubt that you are capable to do the task in line with constitutional requirements but you must go beyond the decree to establish the truth and make indispensable recommendation within 30 days from today, so that appropriate actions are taken", Kiir reportedly said on Tuesday after presiding over the swearing in of the four member investigation committee. A well placed presidential source who requested anonymity told Sudan Tribune on Thursday that President Kiir was been angered by the incident, in which approximately 176,000 South Sudanese Pound (SSP) and $14,000 went missing in March. The source said that Kiir has been angered by the "impression" the theft had given to his office, admitting that there "were attempts to contain" the scandal "but it became difficult because it was already a public knowledge". Rumours of the missing money had been circulating in Juba in the days before Sudan Tribune broke the story. "The president has been asking but he was not getting appropriate answers. This was why he decided to form investigation committee to establish the actual facts. The other thing is the impression it will bring to the office of the president if it is not investigated and left just like that", the source said on Thursday. The committee is tasked with finding out exactly how much money was stolen, who stole and why so much money was being held in the office rather than in a bank. State run television on Tuesday evening showed images of the president presiding over the swearing in function of the four member investigation headed by the chairperson of South Sudan’s Anti-Corruption Commission, Justice John Gatwech Lul at the state house. The function, administered by the Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut, saw the members taking oath of office with pledges that they will diligently carry out the assignment with constitutional respect, faithfulness, honesty and transparency as required by law. PUBLIC REACTIONS Garang Ajang Duot, a native of Jonglei state currently living in Juba, expressed doubt over whether the investigation would really produce any tangible result, citing formation of similar investigation committee for similar case in the past. "The president first said he will drive a vehicle without reverse gear. What he meant by this was that he will follow the SPLM/A policies, missions, vision and the objectives as they were in the manifesto. This means that the SPLM manifesto would be his guiding book in all issues. What did he do? It is up to you and your readers to judge. The other promise was the fight against corruption. He pledged zero tolerance against corruption. What did he do? It is again up to you with your readers", he wondered. Awien Majok, a student of medicine of Upper Nile University currently in Juba, said she has heard a lot of politicians making encouraging promises since the 2005 but has not practically seen the result of the promises. "Our leaders are usually fond of making rhetoric just to draw the attention of the public at the time of making public speeches. They say lots of words and few actions." Ms. Majok, who comes from Unity state’s Parieng County, compared the promise by political leaders to people awaiting seasonal rains without knowing when they will come. "Our political leaders are like rains which make big thunders and do not rain, they make big light, appearing as if they will rain but fail. This is exactly what our political leaders do. They talk sweet words with no actions. They think we are fool to be fooled all the times." She observed that confronting the issue of corruption is a matter of political will and survival of South Sudanese leader, adding that the problem is how to root out corrupt officials when so many of them are quite literally invested in the system. "Consider the case of 75 officials who are believed to have not properly overseen the appropriate us of 4 billion dollars. What happened? Why none of them has until today been investigated and held responsible. So why do you think these officials in the office of the president will be prosecuted when the big fishes are freely swimming here", she stressed. Garang Dut, a civil servant who works at the petroleum and mining ministry described the case of the 75 leaders as an isolated and complicated incident, claiming it has become an eye opener. "What happened in the office of the president should not be compared to the issue of 75 officials and it has opened door for new policies which are already in place to prevent similar", he said explaining. He said he was saddened when the issue of stolen money in the office of the president came to the light last week. "I was deeply touched and saddened by this act but I was relieved when the president moved swiftly to form investigation committee with responsibility to conduct an audit of all the account so that it establish facts of what happened", he explained. 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