Petty Corruption Stories from Sudan: The Locally Brewed Alcohol (Araki) and Police corruption in Sudan

Context The Sudanese Criminal Act of 1991 prohibits the production and consumption of alcohol. Poor women, often internally displaced, produce locally made alcohol (Araki) as a means of survival. Police launch regular raids on these communities, but the harsh legal penalties have created an environment ripe for blackmail and corruption.

Blackmailing and Bribery A survey of women in these neighborhoods revealed a systematic pattern of corruption:

• Settlements: Policemen often offer to release women in exchange for a bribe (ranging from 500 to 1,000 SDG) rather than pressing charges.
• Unofficial Raids: Policemen sometimes conduct raids after midnight without their superiors' knowledge, using private transport like rickshaws to collect bribes.
• Official Complicity: In official raids, junior officers may hide the police vehicle nearby. If a bribe is paid, they report to their senior officer that no alcohol was found. If no agreement is reached, the senior officer is called to make the arrest.

Consequences

• Poverty: Arbitrary fines and bribes worsen the poverty of already vulnerable women.
• Social Fabric: Since these women often come from specific ethnic groups, the blackmailing nurtures feelings of racial prejudice and injustice.
• Institutional Credibility: These practices undermine the public's trust in the police as a law enforcement agency.

Recommendations

• Address the root causes of bootlegging as a socio-economic issue rather than a legal one.
• Provide these women with alternative means of livelihood and social assistance.
• Develop strict administrative controls within the police force to ensure integrity during raids.