Frail and hopeless: Ex-governor – Kuel appears in court for the first time in 14 months

Frail and hopeless: Ex-governor – Kuel appears in court for the first time in 14 months
Former Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal State Governor Kuel Aguer Kuel (photo credit: courtesy)

The High Court in Juba yesterday commenced the hearing of cases of seven members of the People’s Coalition of Civil Action (PCCA) accused of attempting to overthrow the transitional government.

Of the seven, included former governor of Northern Bahr el-Ghazal, Kuel Aguer Kuel.

Kuel’s co-accused such as Abraham Awenleith, Rajab Muhandis, Wani Michael, James David Kulok, Manas Mathiang, and Daniel Makau are being tried in absentia.

The ex- governor was arrested on August 2, 2021. He his linked with PCCA, a group that was calling for peaceful protests across the country on August 30, 2021, to force the transitional government to step down.

Kuel was charged with five offences against the state, including subverting constitutional government; insurgency, banditry, sabotage, or terrorism; and causing disaffection among defence forces.

Latjor Kueth Jal who read the statement on behalf of the Directorate of Public Prosecution and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, said the case was in accordance with sections 183 and 224 (2) of the Code of Criminal procedure Act 2008.

“This case which laid before you, your honour, is concerning offences committed against the Republic of South Sudan and its government which was established under the revitalised peace agreement signed in September 2018.”

“[The] accused person present and other absconded accused persons did not respect the constitution that granted the freedom of association and other rights with limitation and formed an illegal political organization known as the People’s Coalition for Civil Actions and signed the declaration on July 30, 2021, to achieve political goals and objectives to overthrow the government with unconstitutional means,” he stressed.

Latjor said the accused had a joint common intention of committing offences against the state by calling on the citizens for an uprising.

According to Latjor, the exhibit found in possession of the former governor included a Macbook, three mobile phones, three flash disks, and an adopter.

The evidence submitted by the prosecution panel to the court included online publications, post-video, audio, recorded testimony, expert opinions, impounded exhibits, and digital evidence, as well as websites, declarations, and distributed circulars.

After providing the evidence, the prosecution recommended to the court to convict, punish and sentence the accused persons in accordance with the provisions of the penal code, 2008.

The investigating officer, Mandela Mustafa, adduced the evidence before the court, with many of them being electronic items belonging to the first accused and others. However, the defence lawyer, Kiir Chol Deng, rejected some of the evidence.

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