Gov’t stops illegal collection of money at Nesitu

The Director-General of Passports, Nationality, Immigration, and Civil Registry, Lt Gen. Atem Marol Biar, yesterday shut down multiple offices engaging in the illegal collection of money at Nesitu.

This comes after the directorate learned that the units of the organised forces deployed at Nesitu had been extorting money from business people, drivers, and passengers without proper law.

Among the organised forces deployed at the Nesitu checkpoint are national security, customs officers, immigration officers, traffic officers, military intelligence, and SSPDF.

‘‘All these units have been collecting money from the travellers separately. But now the directorate has only tasked immigration, customs and traffic to collect money at Nesitu,’’ he revealed.

During his visit to Nesitu yesterday, Lt. Gen. Atem Marol Biar said there has been a random collection of money and an unlawful registration of foreigners at the Nesitu.

“Stop making random the collection because we found that all of you are collecting money from the people unlawfully. Let us promote our country. We want to see good services delivered to the people because this country is a priority to everyone who comes here.

‘‘We need to show them respect and we must do things under the law,” Lt Gen Marol told the organised forces deployed in Nesitu.

 “The money you are collecting is not yours; it is for the government and will be used for development. If you don’t build the government, then who is going to build it for you,” he asked.

Lt. Gen. Marol warned the officials of registering foreigners who come to spend only one day in the country.

“This must stop. [It] especially [affects] the truck drivers who are going to other states, ”  

“You are supposed to register only someone who is going to stay there for three days and beyond. Why are you registering people who are travelling taking goods to other states, or somebody who can sleep only for one night,”? he said.  

Cooperation needed

However, he advised the security organs at Nesitu to cooperate while conducting their duty to serve and protect the people.

“I direct you to deliver services despite some of the challenges you are going through. I need cooperation from you,” he said.

His warning comes after another one in September, when he ordered immigration officers deployed at Juba International Airport to avoid engaging in corruption.

He said the officers must be patriotic and honest so that South Sudan gains respect on the continent.

 He also asked the police to treat foreigners better so they would know that South Sudan is a good country.

 “If you have accepted to deliver service, [then] you should desist from corruption. You are the people receiving foreign visitors [and] you have to behave well to raise the nation’s image,” he said.