Police probe cash theft at Western Equatoria revenue office

Police in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State are investigating a break-in at the state revenue authority’s office in Yambio after more than 1 million South Sudanese pounds was found missing from a cash safe.

The break-in occurred at about 1:30 am on Sunday, when unidentified armed men entered the cashier’s office through a window and tried to force open a cash safe, Paulino Paid, acting commissioner of the Western Equatoria State Revenue Authority, said.

Police officers guarding the compound fired shots into the air, forcing the men to flee, Paida said.

The authority had recorded about 5 million South Sudanese pounds in the safe when it closed on Friday, but staff later found about 4 million pounds, leaving a shortfall of more than 1 million pounds, he said.

Police spokesperson Major Martin Joseph Ngbodu said investigations are under way. The officer on duty during the incident has been detained as part of the investigation, he said.

Preliminary information indicated that the suspects approached the building on four motorcycles, Ngbodu said. No suspects have been publicly identified.

Paida said he would not speculate on whether the perpetrators were employees or outsiders, saying the matter is for investigators to determine.

The revenue authority plans to strengthen security at its premises, including deploying more armed police at night and improving its safe and perimeter security, Paida said.

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