Suspended Director of the Jonglei State Revenue Authority, Thai Kher Chagor (Courtesy photo)

Jonglei State revenue chief suspended

The Director of the Revenue Authority in Jonglei State, Thai Kher Chagor, has been suspended over allegations of nepotism.

Finance Minister Abraham Riek Yuek announced Chagor’s suspension without divulging details.

Chagor, a controversial figure in the state, was among the officials accused of being appointed due to familial ties rather than merit during the tenure of former Governor Denay Jock Chagor.

His suspension comes amid broader efforts by the current administration to address the governance and accountability concerns.

The suspension of Kher Chagor follows a series of administrative shake-ups within Jonglei State. In August 2022, the state’s Legislative Assembly members passed a vote of no confidence on the Finance Minister Yuek, alleging funds mismanagement linked to instructions from former Governor Jock Chagor. The former Governor’s refusal to dismiss Yuek further fueled tensions within the government.

The Director General of the Ministry of Local Government, Deng Duol Pur, was also suspended. Pur, who described his suspension as “illegal” and conducted without due process, told Radio Tamazuj that there was a lack of transparency surrounding his removal.

“I have been suspended for three months without any proper procedures being followed. No reasons have been given to justify this illegal action,” Pur declared.

The State Local Government Minister, Simon Hoth Duol, confirmed the suspensions but downplayed them as a routine administrative matter.

Critics argue that such suspensions without clear grounds risked undermining public trust in the state government.

The suspensions of Kher Chagor and Pur underscore the challenges facing the Jonglei administration, where allegations of nepotism and improper governance persist.

For now, the fate of Kher Chagor and others suspended remain uncertain, pending potential investigations.