By Akol Madut Ngong
The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has welcomed the provision of the justice and accountability on the criminal act that claimed the life of Chief John Ebele of Nzara Boma in Nimule Payam of Eastern Equatoria State on 11th July 2022.
CEPO’s Executive Director, Edmund Yakani said the murder of Chief John Ebele was an unacceptable act and deserves adequate provision of justice and accountability by the legal system of the country.
He said the court of law sentencing of the perpetrator by hanging to death and one accused sentenced to 3 year’s imprisonment was clear demonstration of justice and accountability called for by many including CEPO was an applause to the leadership of the judiciary in South Sudan.
“Though the punishment by hanging to death is inhuman but that is what the existing law requires or provided as penalty for murder crime,” the activist said.
“It’s time to see similar justice and accountability being provided for the crimes recently committed in Leer County on civilians, murder of Mayom County Commissioner, extra-judicial killing of soldiers and the Kajo-Keji County murder of three allegedly by the army,” he added.
Yakani echoed avoidance of selective provision of justice and accountability across the country.
“The political leadership and judiciary of the country should demonstrate that justice sectors of the country is functional and free in delivering justice and accountability on matters of violation of the existing laws of the country,” the CEPO’s Executive Director noted.
A high court in Torit town of Eastern Equatoria State sentenced a 24-year-old man to death by hanging over the murder of a traditional chief in the border town of Nimule last mont.
On 11th July 2022, the local community was holding a meeting in the border town of Nimule to fundraise for the burial of two youths who were killed in Mugali when John Ebele, the Chief of Nzara Boma in Nimule Payam, was shot and killed.
The mobile high court has issued a death sentence against the first accused, Lat Machut, who was responsible for the shooting and killing of the chief. And the court also convicted the second accused who caused the problem by taking pictures of people who were gathered to contribute money for the burial of two people killed previously in Mugali”.
The first convict was convicted under section 206 of the Penal Code Act 2008, and that is the section in regards to murder which says whoever causes the death of another person intentionally commit murder, and he was also convicted under section 72 which deals with the possession of dangerous weapons because he bought a weapon and was not licensed.
The first accused was sentenced to death by hanging, while the court sentenced the second accused, a 26-year-old man, to three years in prison for taking photos that triggered the tensions.