Security officers at Juba International Airport on Saturday detained Boma State Minister of Finance Joseph Lolimoi for attempting to carry $70,000 abroad, a state official said.
Lolimoi was reportedly booked to travel on a flight to the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Saturday. Customs regulations in South Sudan do not permit travelling with such a large and undeclared amount.
A senior official in Boma state who preferred anonymity told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that customs officials at the airport found an amount of $70,000 and some South Sudanese pounds in Lolimoi’s possession before he could board the plane.
For his part, John Achuan, Boma Minister of Information, confirmed that the state minister of finance had been arrested by security officials at Juba Airport.” Yes, we heard about what happened, but we don’t know when was that, I think it was the day before yesterday or when I don’t know,” said.
“Honestly, there are security procedures going on, and up to now we do not know what happened, maybe he is being investigated, “he explained.
Achuan, who is also the state government’s spokesman, pointed out that the arrested official had requested to go on leave to visit his family in Khartoum, saying the newly appointed state governor Ismail Konyi who is currently in Juba is following up with the security officers.
“I don’t know what happened at the airport up to now, the governor is in Juba, he will follow up the case, I think the governor will follow up the case with the security, because it is a normal security procedure,” he said.
File photo: Juba Airport