Central Darfur official accused of embezzlement

An investigation committee in Um Dukhun locality, Central Darfur, has recommended the filing of charges against the executive director of the locality, for unlawfully obtaining civil registration fees.

A listener told Radio Dabanga that the director, Mutasim Mohamed Abdelrahim, embezzled the sum of SDG260,000 ($43,200), collected as fees for obtaining a civil registration “national number”, without issuing receipts.

The executive director had ordered his staff to collect SDG20 ($3.30) from each resident in the locality, with which he would issue a “certificate of residence”, required to obtain the “national number”.

“A group of young activists, however, protested against the action, calling it unlawful,” the source said. “When Abdelrahim denied being involved, a committee of inquiry was formed, which confirmed the illegality of the procedure.

“Some 13,000 people in Um Dukhun paid the SDG20, according to the civil registry. The committee recommended the return of the money, which was not deposited in locality’s treasury, but disappeared into the director’s pockets, and the filing of charges against him,” he reported.