By Hou Akot Hou
Northern Bahr El Ghazal state parliament has passed a motion that would allow the transfer of inmates to Upper Nile State.
Lawmaker, Santino Wol Aluk said the assembly suggested that all thieves, particularly those involved in cattle theft, who are currently in custody, should be transferred to the Malakal prison in Upper Nile.
This measure is intended to prevent undue influence from their relatives and ensure a fair judicial process.
The discussions happened in the presence of the State governor Aken Ngor Tong who was invited to listen to the concerns of the Members of Parliament.
The governor has expressed support for the motion, agreeing that individuals involved in serious offences should be transported to the main prison in Malakal.
“We said all thieves such as those who have stolen cattle from neighbouring states like Warrap and Western Bahr el Ghazal for example should be transported and serve their terms or sentences in Malakal prison and the Malakal inmates will be brought to Aweil so that their relatives never influence the verdicts through briberies,” he revealed.
he said other matters raised include separating the customary courts from the statutory courts as many cases are duplicated or taken over by the judges leaving chiefs redundant.
He urges chiefs to settle customary cases in the traditional manners and leave the capital cases like someone who is killed has to be settled by judge but issues of dispute over cattle issues have to be settled by the customary courts or chiefs.