Row breaks over fate of corrupt South Sudan leadersBy MACHEL AMOS in Juba | Saturday, June 30  2012 at  19:01

The saga of missing public funds in South Sudan has taken a new twist after a top government official defended the 75 suspects liked to embezzlement of over $4 million.

Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin dismissed parliament’s decision to suspend the officials pending full investigations.

According to Dr Marial, the suspects should remain in office as search for the real suspects goes on.

However, Vice President Riek Machar Teny on Saturday said the government will have to find a way of implementing the parliament’s decision.

“We may be forced to go to the Anti-Corruption to tell them to act” Dr Machar told UN-sponsored radio. “Parliament is supreme and therefore its resolutions must followed,” he added.

Dr Machar however added that a few of the officials were innocent.

Stolen funds

On May 3, President Kiir confidentially wrote to the 75 current and former government officials asking them to return the looted cash.

"Culprits should not be protected by the state because then we would be contradicting the drive to fight corruption,” Dr Machar said.

The lost money could fully fund the government’s budget for two years.