Machar Trial Session Delayed
The special court hearing for suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused opened on Monday with a routine roll call, but proceedings quickly stalled.
Illness Disrupts Judicial Panel
Presiding Judge James Alala announced that the panel was incomplete because Judge Stephen Simon was absent, undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness.
Alala promptly postponed the session to Wednesday, 10 December, stating, “The court is now adjourned.”
Cross-Examination Put on Hold
The delay interrupted the planned cross-examination of the prosecution’s first witness, a Major in the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces.
Defence lawyers confirmed all defendants were present, except the sixth accused, reportedly absent for health reasons.
Serious Charges Loom Over Defendants
Dr. Machar and the group face allegations linked to the Nasir incident, ranging from treason and murder to terrorism and money laundering.
The court’s schedule suggests that witness testimonies will resume once the full bench reconvenes, keeping regional observers attentive to the high-profile case.