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AWEIL - 25 Sep 2022

Aweil: Detained anti-corruption boss released on bail pending trial

Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson Anei Rok Akuei at Aweil UNMISS office on 27 May 2022. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj]
Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson Anei Rok Akuei at Aweil UNMISS office on 27 May 2022. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj]

The detained Northern Bahr el Ghazal State’s Anti-corruption Commission Chairperson has been released while awaiting trial, a local official said Tuesday.

Mr. Anei Rok Akuei was arrested by the authorities last week, days after he filed a report on mismanagement and embezzlement of public funds in the state.

 The anti-corruption commissioner, in his report, alleged that the state had money and questioned the governor’s office why there was no delivery of services to the people and why civil servants had no vehicles to conduct official duties.

He claims that the monthly funds resulting from Personal Income Taxes (PIT) transferred from Juba to Aweil are SSP 2.2 Billion from local staff and USD 317,000 from the staff of international humanitarian organizations. He further said that WFP pays USD 60,000 annually for renting stores in the state and that the state government collects another SSP 30 Million locally in revenues.

But the state government described the report as fake and biased.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, the State Minister of Information, William Anyuon Kuol, said Mr. Rok has been bailed out from detention and that a court date will be fixed later.

“Rok has been released on bail and is awaiting the summon from the court,” Minister William Anyuon. “The date is not yet clear, but I think the court will set a date for the hearing soon.”

For his part, Anti-corruption Commissioner Anei Rok confirmed his release on bail and vowed to stand by his report.

 “I am still sticking to my idea, this is my work, and that’s why I was appointed to be the chairperson for the Anti-corruption Commission in Northern Bahr el Ghazal. I have evidence on all I have been telling the public,” Rok said.

 “I am ready, but the court in Northern Bahr el Ghazal is not fair.  If the State government wants to take me to court, let us go to Juba so that I appear before the court there,” he added.

Santino Deng Ngong, the Executive Director for the Aweil Community Based Organizations Forum (ACBOF), appreciated the state government for releasing the state official and called for speedy court sessions.

 “We urge the court to speed up the case so that we get the result, and this one will encourage our activists to continue with the work,” Deng said.

Under South Sudan's laws, detainees – whether arrested by the police or the security services – are accorded basic rights. The constitution provides that the detainee should be taken before a court of law within 24 hours of arrest.