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Re: فضيييحة ... ضباط في مطار جوبا يطالبون السفير الهندي لدى السودان بدفع رشوة (Re: معتصم محمد صالح)
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NEW DELHI: India's ambassador to Sudan Deepak Vohra was confronted by security and customs officers at Juba airport in Sudan and asked for bribe money The dramatic incident happened on Thursday, when Vohra was on his way from southern Sudan to Khartoum. Six customs and security officers have been accused of harassing the Indian envoy, which the government of southern Sudan has termed "embarrassing". The MEA in Delhi refused to comment on the incident.
The minister of information of the government of southern Sudan, Gabriel Chang, told journalists that on Thursday, Vohra's baggage was blocked by security officers at the airport. The officers demanded to inspect the baggage and threatened to block him from boarding the airplane if he did not pay them some money.
It started when the Indian consul general in Juba went on ahead of the ambassador to check in his luggage at the airport. He was blocked by four officers who demanded money and said they would otherwise open the bags. The bags were clearly marked as belonging to the ambassador, who is exempt under the Vienna convention from having his luggage searched. It took another senior officer to overrule the others.
When the ambassador arrived, two other officers accosted him and demanded money or "documents" or they would take away his luggage. Vohra reportedly said he would prefer to travel without his luggage. As he walked to the aircraft, two other men blocked his way. But under the glare of other passengers, they moved away.
Although the incident ended without any money exchanging hands, it was only after other officials from the airport intervened and the Indian consul general in Juba complained to the government.
The cabinet of the government of southern Sudan was briefed on the incident and an inquiry has reportedly been launched. The culprits have not yet been identified. The government intends to prosecute them.
Narrating the incident, the minister said, "When the ambassador's diplomatic passport and identity card were shown to them, they shouted, `we don't care, throw the passport away'."
According to Sudanese media, Juba airport regularly witnesses such incidents involving even Sudanese ministers. In the light of this incident, there have been a further tightening of rules and coordination among security agencies in southern Sudan, newspapers reported.
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