The high court in South Sudan’s capital Juba on Tuesday listened to charges from the chief investigator Maj Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani against persons accused on allegations of forgery, transfers of money and use of headed paper from the Office of the President.
Maj Gen. Thomas, chief investigator, said the case had initially swept up 25 suspects but charges against nine were not brought due to insufficient evidences.
The investigator told the court that on 25 May, John Agou was the first suspect to be arrested followed by seven of his associates including Kenyans and one Lebanese citizen.
He said the first accused person John Agou who was working at the Office of the President and owner of Click Company was involved in serious malpractices in which they got 14 million USD dollars and 30,994,832 SSP at his accounts abroad in Kenya.
Thomas explained that on 13 June 2015, the investigation committee started their task by checking the forged documents, which were brought from Click Company, Office of the President and Ministry of Finance for auditors to classify in an experts’ report.
The investigator has presented the case against four accused persons yesterday, meanwhile, the cases against the other 12 accused will be presented later this week.
John Agou has denied the accusations of the investigator.
“We have listened from the investigator on the statement of the four accused persons and the court has decided to continue with its next sitting on 25 February 2016 at 10 am,” said Lado Armeno, high court judge.
For their part, defense lawyers of the 16 accused persons said they were unable to talk to their clients yesterday because National Security officers were present inside the room listening to their conversations.
One of the defense team said that the need to left alone with their clients to allow them interact with them in order to allow them have some clear details of the case.
Among the accused are:
– Yel Loul Kur, chief executive director in the Office of President
– Mayan Wol Jong, chief administrator in the Office of President
– Controller of accounts in the Office of President.
– The overall controller of accounts in the Office of President
– Anne Christos Ladu, accountant at the Office of the President
– Executive Director at the office of the Secretary-General for Decentralization
– Chaat Paul, Director of Communication at General Administration Office
– Francis Justin, employee of ministry of finance
– Anyang Mijok, cashier of the central bank