Kuel Aguer Kuel trial moves to next week

The trial of former Northern Bahr el Ghazal State governor Kuel Aguer Kuel will continue Monday and Tuesday next week when the court will hear from the prosecution team.

Kuel Aguer was arrested in July 2021 after signing a declaration by the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) calling for a change in government in South Sudan through a popular uprising.

During the second hearing of the case at the High Court in Juba on Wednesday, the prosecutor cross-examined the police investigator, followed by his cross-examination by the defense team.

Yesterday, the Special High Court headed by Judge Someya Saleh held its fourth session and heard from the team headed by attorney Kiir Chol Deng and the complainant’s panel who stood in for Deng Juma Rihan who submitted their final submissions.

Last week, lead defence lawyer Kiir Chol denied all charges brought against the former governor, saying his client was just practicing his freedom of expression under sections 24 and 25 of the Bill of Rights in South Sudan`s constitution.  

Chol questioned the court why his client had spent more than a year on remand without trial and no proper procedures were taken for his client`s arbitrary detention.

The defense also requested the court to allow his lawyers and family members to visit Aguer as his health might deteriorate further.

The South Sudanese politician signed the PCCA declaration as a representative of the South Sudan intellectuals group. The other signatories were civil society activist Rajab Mohandis and Abraham Awolich, a renowned researcher, both of who fled the country.