Where are the ‘big fish’? MPs ask Ombudsman

Parliament has challenged the Ombudsman’s office to make public names of leaders involved in corruption-related vices to send a message to those who may be tempted to abuse public funds.The lawmakers made the call on Wednesday as they met in a joint session to receive the 2012/2013 report by the Office of the Ombudsman.According to the report, of the 121 people convicted of corruption, 52 are farmers, while drivers and motorcyclists are 33 and 12 junior Police officers.The list also includes traders, community mediators (Abunzi) and few local leaders at the cell and village level.The highest amount involved in bribery is Rwf2 million that was taken by a policeman who was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison and fined Rwf200,000 by the High Court in Kigali.The lowest amount was Rwf2,000 for which the culprit, a driver, was handed a two-year sentence plus a fine of Rwf 4,000 by Nyamabuye Intermediate Court.MPs expressed concerns over officials involved in embezzlement and flouting tendering procedures, leading to loss of taxpayers’ money, but who are not included in the report.“I don’t wish to see a long list of farmers, drivers, and junior Police officers, while some ‘big fish’ involved in embezzlement go unmentioned,” said MP Annoncée Manirarora.MPs also referred to cases of leaders under prosecution over failure to declare their wealth.Periodical evaluation of assets mainly concerns leaders who have a direct responsibility in public fund management.This year, the Ombudsman’s office assessed the sources of income of 1,032 leaders. They include permanent secretaries and directors-generals in ministries, land officials and members of procurement committees at various levels.Six of them did not declare how they obtained their wealth and two are already in court.According to the lawmakers, it would have more impact if leaders found culpable are publicised just like the ordinary Rwandan.“We cannot conceal leaders who do not lead by example; better reveal their names for us and the media to know,” said MP Beatrice Nyirarukundo.The parliamentarians also gave an example of 32 cases mentioned in the report where the government lost Rwf 92m in courts and the officials who were responsible did not feature in the report.Legal loopholeIn response, the Ombudsman, Aloysie Cyanzayire, said: “People involved in embezzlement cannot be named because, despite the international laws, the Rwandan law do not recognise embezzlement as corruption; yet the law only allows us to publish names of those convicted for corruption”.She said in such cases, her office sends a report to the prosecution, police or the National Public Procurement Authority for a follow up, adding that their mandate only limits them to cases of bribery.MPs also wanted people involved in the mismanagement of major national projects which were also cited in the report, to be made public. Cyanzayire said she had taken note of all recommendations by MPs and efforts would not be spared to nail the so-called “big fish”, especially those convicted for embezzlement even if it requires amending laws.