Special Court Session Reopens in Juba
Juba’s Special Court reopened its fifteenth session on Monday, pressing ahead with the high-profile prosecution of suspended First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused. Two defendants missed the sitting, with defense counsel citing medical complications.
Presiding Judge James Alala allowed defense lawyers to continue cross-examining chief investigator Major General Basilio Thomas Wani, who doubles as Northern Bahr el Ghazal Police Commissioner.
Focus on Residence Search and Seized Funds
Defense questions focused on the single search conducted at Machar’s Juba residence. Basilio admitted he never received an Attorney General search warrant and said National Security officers led the operation.
He denied seizing six long-range radios, contradicting prosecution notes, and confirmed finding cash worth three million South Sudanese Pounds whose ownership, he said, remained undeclared to investigators.
Missing Detainees and Evidence Journey Abroad
Four men allegedly detained during the raid—Mark Dieu Yout, Par Dang Yout, Kuok Dang Yel and Hoth Chok—have not been produced in court. Basilio said he had no information about their whereabouts.
Under further grilling, the officer outlined how phones and laptops travelled to South Africa inside a diplomatic bag escorted by Ambassador Dennis Dumo for private forensic analysis, before being returned to Juba.
He maintained the integrity of the evidence despite conceding that neither South Sudanese nor South African state laboratories authenticated the expert’s final report.
Political Remarks and Unvisited Crime Scene
Asked about public comments by senior officials linking Machar’s movement to the 2023 Nasir violence before charges were filed, Basilio replied he was unaware and had not summoned former Upper Nile governor James Koang Chol.
He also acknowledged investigators never reached Nasir County, citing insecurity, a point the defense framed as a serious gap in fact-finding.
Adjournment and Anticipated Next Steps
After two hours, Judge Alala adjourned proceedings to Friday, 31 October 2025, signalling more cross-examination and keeping national attention on a case seen as a barometer for South Sudan’s evolving justice system.