JUBA – South Sudan’s Traffic Police Department has warned officers against corrupt practices including extortion of motorists in the streets of Juba.
The directive follows repeated public concerns about malpractices by some unscrupulous officers allegedly taking fines for traffic offenses without receipts.
The Traffic Police focal person for the Media and Morale Orientation, First Lieutenant Ruai Mun Ruai, threatened punitive measures against noncompliance, in a statement to the media on Tuesday.
“No traffic police officer is authorized to take money from anyone without issuing a financial receipt,” he stated.
“However, if you wish to appreciate an officer for the outstanding work they are doing, you can do so out of goodwill, you can say, ‘Officer, I’m happy with your work, please take this,’ and give it openly without shame in front of everyone.”
“But if we receive credible information about officers pressuring or exploiting citizens for money, the law will take its course to stop such practices that promote crime.“