Your are here  » Home   » World

S Sudan MPs suspend officials in corruption probe

Updated Wednesday, June 13th 2012 at 00:00 GMT +3

South Sudan's parliament has voted to suspend at least 75 senior officials accused of massive corruption.

President Salva Kiir sent a letter to the current and ex-government employees, asking them to return at least $4bn (£2.6bn) of stolen money.

About $60m has been recovered since the letters were sent out last month, the BBC was told last week.

South Sudan became independent last July, but analysts say corruption is already one of its biggest problems.

The new nation is also desperately in need of funds after its oil production, which accounts for 98% of revenue, was shut down in an argument with Sudan.

'Betrayed ideals'
The MPs said the 75 individuals who had received the president's letter would be suspended until they were convicted or acquitted.

The BBC's James Copnall, reporting from Sudan's capital, Khartoum, says their identities have not yet been made public.

But two members of parliament, Awut Deng and Lual Deng, both came forward to say they had received the letter.

Both said they welcomed the opportunity to clear their names.

Lual Deng, a federal minister before South Sudan seceded from Sudan, told the BBC he had received a general letter and wanted the president's office to provide specific accusations to which he could respond.

He also said as he had served in Khartoum, not Juba, he did not see how he could have stolen South Sudanese money.

In his letter, President Kiir said that those who had taken money had betrayed the ideals for which they had fought.

GO TO PAGE 1 2 Next »
Comments in chronological order (Total 0 comments)



1100 characters remaining
 
Top headlines

Uganda police shut down Monitor Publications

Police raided Uganda's leading independent newspaper on Monday and disabled its printing press after it published a letter about a purported plot to stifle allegations President Yoweri Museveni is grooming his son for power

Google+

Popular on Facebook

KCB 41.00 0.00
COOP 17.00 0.05
KPLC 17.15 0.15
ARM 70.00 1.00
EQTY 35.00 0.50
HFCK 25.50 0.00
KAPC 125.00 -1.00
KENO 10.95 0.15
KQ 11.30 0.00
MSC 4.45 0.05
SASN 13.50 -0.05
SCOM 7.25 0.00
Watch KTN Live Listen to Radio Maisha Live