The former caretaker governor of South Sudan’s Northern Bahr al Ghazal state misappropriated over 160,000 US dollars’ worth of public funds, according to an investigation commissioned by the state legislative assembly.
A report on the investigation submitted to the state parliament alleges that under Kuel’s watch money borrowed from Juba to purchase vehicles went missing, while tax funds gathered for the state finance ministry instead ended up lining the pockets of collection agents.
“The state administration under the previous caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer Kuel, has misappropriated local revenues meant to provide services to the population,” said Angok Achuol Barjok. Kuel denies the allegations.
Angok said Kuel’s adminstration received 1.2 million US dollars to buy 25 vehicles from Dubai, but spent only 1.037 million, leaving a gap of $163,000.
“The information we have obtained shows that the remaining balance was used by the former caretaker governor,” Angok said. “We don’t know what he did with it.”
The vehicles purchased include 10 Toyata Prados, 14 hardtops, plus one Toyata Land Cruiser V8 for the governor. All were 2015 models.
Angok further alleged “malpractice” in the process of acquiring the 1.2 million dollar loan to purchase the cars. Kuel received that loan from the national government in Juba.
Tax funds missing
In addition to the vehicle scheme, the committee uncovered an arrangement where tax collection agents gathered far more money from the public than expected but kept the majority of tax funds from the state finance ministry.
In the first three quarters of the last fiscal year, the institutions gathered nearly 2 million SSP more than their tax collection target, exceeding the budget by 20%, the committee said.
60% of state tax funds was diverted to collecting institutions while 40% went to the state ministry of finance, according to Angok. The committee’s report said that Kuel himself received money “direct” from collecting institutions in Aweil municipality, Aweil North, and Aweil East.
“The committee found that the state has collected more revenues from what was projected without implementation of successful and tangible developmental projects to justify the purpose of the use of resources collected from the people,” Angok said.
Angok’s committee further alleged that the State Finance Ministry “deliberately failed to follow the financial management system in view of budget implementation and local resource generation.”
“There was no proper financial records keeping in the ministry of finance and other institutions,” he said, adding that local resources were collected and used outside the budget.
Officials summoned
Kuel has rejected the committee’s report, saying it was “politically motivated and lacks sense of impartiality.”
Kuel was removed from his post earlier this year by President Salva Kiir after a lengthy power struggle between the former caretaker governor and his predecessor, former governor Paul Malong. The committee to investigate alleged corruption in Kuel’s administration was formed immediately after his ouster.
Angok said the state parliament will summon all the officials named in the report to explain themselves on the alleged misappropriation and to refund the public resources.
The chairperson for the state assembly’s legal and human rights committee Garang Mawein Mawein said most state and county institutions have cooperated so far with an audit committee being formed to investigate the implentation of the 2014-2015 budget.
However, two county commissioners – Ngor Agok Ngor of Aweil East and William Ajonga of Aweil Center – have so far failed to attend their summons.
Reports say Ajonga was unable to attend due to the security situation in his county, while Ngor may be attending a peace conference.
Related:
Probe into N Bahr al Ghazal state vehicle procurement (16 Apr.)