SOUTH SUDAN: Juba High Court Sentences Four Suspects Connected to the Shooting of Bishop of Rumbek
Rt.-Rev.-Christian-Bishop-of-Rumbek-Diocese-South-Sudan
Ginaba Lino
South Sudan high court in Juba, on Monday, 25th April 2022, has sentenced four suspects out of the six who were accused of shooting Bishop Christian Carlassare of Rumbek, in April 2021.
While reading the verdicts, the Justice Alexander Sebur Subek read that Fr. John Mathiang of Rumbek Diocese, Sebit Morris Ater and Laat Makur Agok are sentenced to seven years imprisonment without bail under Penal Code 334, 4,335, 2008.
“They are convicted for allegedly being the mastermind behind the shooting of Bishop of Rumbek, Christian Carlassare.”
The judge propelled that Morris Sebit Ater and Laat Makur who directly went with ammunitions to shoot the then bishop-elect in his house will serve the prison for four years under section 208 of the penal code 270, 2008.
Samuel Makir was sentences to 5 years for keeping two guns that were used for the attempted assassination and for providing the assassin with mobile phone for communication.
Malith Jok Thiang, defense lawyer, disagreed with the lawyer’s findings on evidence, claiming that the judge dwelt much on the evidence of the confession of the fifth accused Laat Makur who was not co-examined by the defense lawyers for validity.
“Normally the confession of the accused is used as a weaker evidence in a sense that they are not tested, and the defense team (lawyers) were not allowed to test the validity of the fifth accused statements as evidence”, Malith complained.
On 2nd March 2022, the Court set the 20-year-old free Mangok Chol and 31-year-old Gabriel Deng Dut, under section 226 of criminal procedures for lack of evidence, out of the six accused suspects in the shooting of Rumbek Bishop in April last year.
The defense team reiterated that it will appeal after 15 days as stipulated by law.
The verdict was presided over by Justice Alexander Sebur Subek on Monday in Juba.
Meanwhile Bishop Christian Carlassare acknowledges the government of South Sudan for following the case up to the judgment day.
In a press released read by the Bishop of Rumbek on 25 April 2022, he says: “On behalf of the Diocese of Rumbek, we acknowledge today’s verdict.”
“We appreciate the commitment and dedication of the government and the court. Though sad it has happened and the resulting suffering, we pray that truth may bring conversion and healing. As a Church, we look forward with hope during this Easter time and remember Jesus call for forgiveness and Unity.”
The Court hearing of Rt. Rev. Christian Carlassare started on February 03, 2022 with arresting 6 accused, collecting evidences and witnesses of the incident and the Court ended the hearing 25 of April 2022 sentenced 4 of the accused.
