The Justice ministry on Tuesday launched a full investigation into the dura and maize contracts that cost the Government 3.6 billion Pounds in 2009.
A number of companies signed contracts with the government of Southern Sudan to supply dura and maize but the grains did not reach its final destination.Justice Minister John Luk Jok told the press in Juba that the investigation is launched after the World Bank Team known as Stolen Asset Recovery or STAR presented a full forensic audit with the backing of the National Legislative Assembly.
The minister said the ministry set up an investigation team consisting of eight senior public attorneys headed by South Sudan Prosecutor General, Alberto Mayuot.
He added that one senior police officer from the Interior ministry will join the investigation committee.
Justice Luk said the committee is set up under the code of criminal investigation and it has all powers to arrest anybody involved in the grain contracts.
He said the ministry has the commitment of President Salva Kiir Mayardit to lift the immunity of any constitutional post holder involved in the investigation.
Justice Luk said he delegated his powers to the committee to effectively carry out their criminal investigation activities.
He said the committee has the right to call all the companies listed by the ministry involved in the dura and maize contracts.
Justice Luk warned that the companies must appear before the committee when they are summoned over the radio, and that any company representatives that fail to appear will be arrested.
The minister disclosed that they have signed agreements with Sudan, Uganda and Kenya to arrest those escaping the investigation.
He stressed that the investigation will start in the Finance ministry where the money was approved and that it will also reach the Central Bank of South Sudan that paid the money.
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