Khartoum, Sudan, April 4 (Infosplusgabon) – A Sudanese parliamentarian on Wednesday said the government should show no mercy towards persons who steal public money and try to pay it back when caught red handed, known in the Sudan as Tahul.
Maha Sheikh has also called for reconsideration of the article in the ill-gotten wealth legislation, under which a person can pay back public money obtained illegally to escape punishment, irrespective of any profit he has gained by using that money.
The redemption (Tahalul in Islamic jurisdiction jargon) article has incited grievance among the public because it permits corrupt persons to escape punishmens and enjoy impunity, Ms Sheikh who is also a leading figure in the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), was quoted by the official news agency as saying.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on Wednesday on President Omar Basdress to the National Assembly last week, the MP recalled that many cases of corruption looked into by the courts were settled under the redemption article, thus allowing the accused to pay back to the government the original amount obtained illegally.
She stressed that the National Assembly must decide “appropriately” on this article. Observers noted that it was the first time members of NCP spoke openly and in an aggressive manner against corruption.
A number of MPs agreed that the Tahalul article inhibits imposition of deterrent punishments.
FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/UJH/GABON 2018
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