I am of the opinion that we are a new nation. Let us start anew. Let us close it like that. It is dirty work, I have seen it. We close it and we start [afresh] now
MABIOR PHILIP MACH
After two years of marathon investigations into a scandal in which the government lost 6.2 billion pounds (US$3.1bn) in controversial grain deals in 2009, the Deputy Speaker of South Sudan Legislative Assembly says the parliament should now close the files to allow for a fresh beginning.
Daniel Awet Akot says the scam was enormous, but in pushing for the closure of the files, he says this is necessary because investigations into the saga would drag on — without results, cost billions of Pounds, and even affect the Republic’s celebratory mood.
“It was a real joke and we assume that it was a real forgery that was going on at that time,” Deputy Speaker, Daniel Awet Akot said. “It has [infested] every unit: executive, assembly and even the legal advisors themselves. Some even have their own companies of that kind.”
THEY ALREADY STOLE THE MONEY
“So what I see as a reality is, close it, because if you go into it, we will not find it because they have the money. They can hire somebody – advocate- and the advocate will defend them easily,” AKot said.
Some 6.27 billion pounds varnished at the ministry of Finance and Economic Planning during the tenure of Kuol Athian Mawien.The Minstry of Legal Affairs was tasked with prosecuting companies that were suspected of siphoning public funds. There have been concerns from some legislators that the ministry of Legal Affairs, now for Justice, has been joyfully sitting on the investigations process for so long.
However, deputy speaker Awet Akot said investigations by the Ministry of Finance into the circumstances in which the government lost the chunk has reduced the amount to 2.6 billion pounds.
“I am of the opinion that we are a new nation. Let us start new. Let us close it like that. It is a dirty work, I have seen it. We close it and we start now then,” he said.
“From now let the law prevail. Nowhere that people will run to. They will not run to Uganda, they will not run to Khartoum. They will be asked why you are in Khartoum? What have you lost [stolen from] in your area,” he said.
The parliament resolved before independence to seek extradition of Kuol Athian from whichever country he could be in, to appear before the house to account for the loss.
Deputy Speaker Akot insists the only better mean is to shut off further investigations. “That is the only option in my mind. And I think even if the assembly comes later on, I will say let us pass it this way; that let us close this because they can be paid in fifty years. Where will we be in fifty years?
“If we just say that fifty million every year, every year – this 2.5 billion how many years will that be? It will take lots of years. So we close it because no one is dying now. Since these people were held up, no one is dying but let us work now. Let us cultivate.”
