SOUTH SUDAN: Catholic Nun’s Case killed in Yei Has Qualified for Reimbursement Claims After High Court Verified Medical Documents
Late Sister Veronica who was killed in Yei in 2016
Ginaba Lino
The court case of a Catholic nun who was killed in Yei Diocese has on 9, August 2023, qualified for reimbursement claims after the High Court in Juba verified necessary documents demanded in the last court hearing.
The Diocese presented medical documents of the nun who was skilled in Yei in 2016 to the High Court in Juba for verification. The court verified the medical receipts and travel documents presented by the complainant for the slain Rev. Sr. Veronica Rackova a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit (SSPS), as authentic and qualified for reimbursement claims.
Father Emanuel Lodongo who is the complainant on behalf of the victim at the Catholic Diocese of Yei presented the travel document worth over 17 thousand U.S dollars used to charter planes from Yei to Juba, and Juba to Nairobi, in order to serve the life of the Sr Veronika.
He also presented medical receipts worth 1.8 million Kenyan Shillings (approximately 12,500USD) including the cost of transporting her body from Nairobi to Juba, and later to Yei for burial which qualified the case for reimbursement claims.
In the court session, the complainant was cross-examined by the defense lawyer of the accused, Counsel Akoth Maduok, to clarify on how the incident happened during the scene.
In June, this year, the court adjourned its sitting and gave one and a half months to Fr Emmanuel Lodongo to find authenticated medical documents from Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Health to be presented in August 8th, 2023.
The complainant’s defense lawyer, Paulino Lado, told Catholic Media in Juba that the court hearing was adjourned, and rescheduled for August 8th due to what they termed “authenticated medical bills” from Kenya where the slain Sister was treated, to be availed before court.
The presiding judge at Kator Court in Juba, Nicholas Makuach Bol said the next hearing will be on Monday, 14th August, 2023 at 10AM.
Reverend Sister Veronica was serving as a Health worker in Yei Diocese and her murder shocked many Christians. She was shot, wounded during the 2016 crisis while driving Saint Bakhita’s ambulance in a process of taking a patient to Harvester Health Centre. The patient had developed complications needing specialized treatment and care.
Sr. Veronica Rackova who was shot and seriously wounded in South Sudan, died on Friday May 20, at the Nairobi Hospital in Kenya where she was taken for specialized treatment following the shooting incident.
According to Sr. Nancy a member of her congregation who accompanied her to Nairobi said, Sr. Veronica suffered from serious injuries on her hip as well as numerous perforations on her intestines and other internal organs.
The court case of Sister Veronica is now one year since the Catholic Diocese of Yei asked for justice over the death of the Catholic Nun.
