By Philip Buda Ladu
Commissioner of Kajo-Keji County, Central Equatoria State, Hon. David Lisi Christopher has pardoned at least 17 prisoners who have served between four months to one year in various detention facilities.
The decision to release the captives on Monday, most of whom were connected to rebellion and others had committed varying minor crimes was taken during a county security committee meeting chaired by the commissioner.
Commissioner Lisi said he pardoned the prisoners after thorough screening and released them ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivals to extend an olive branch and send a message of peace to the county citizens to return home and rebuild their lives.
According to the local authority, four among the 17 prisoners who were imprisoned for a year in the county prison had been convicted for petty crimes including theft, loan payment and marriage related issues.
Meanwhile the remaining 13 detainees, arrested in August, 6 in national security custody and 7 in the army custody were held for crime in connection with the rebels.
“So we released them to go home as a gesture of good will, with good intention for them to be able to send message to the rest of their colleagues that we are not ready for the nonsense that they have been doing, that we are ready for peace” Mr. Lisi told this outlet.
He emphasized that this is not the first time the county authority is releasing prisoners since he came into office in August, stating “Those whom I got in August, I think most of them have been released”.
The commissioner stressed that they have a clear message to send across, that’s they do not want this rebellion to exist in Kajo-Keji because the same children are the ones who are forced to kill each other.
“So we do not want it, that is why whenever we arrest any of them, a suspect, any of the suspects, we just send into his mind a little sense and release” Lisi underscored. “Once somebody says he will not go back again, he better join the government forces.” He added that joining the organized forces is by choice.
Some of these 13 suspects were reportedly arrested in the aftermath of the last October incident in Leikor trading center where gunmen launched a hit and run attack that left four youth killed.
The commissioner therefore warned the freed captives especially those connected with the rebellion that should they return back to their old ways of life and get rearrested they will regret for the rest of their life.
The County Army Commander, Malong Agat commended his good working relationship with the new County Commissioner urging the released detainees to refrain from their wrong ways.
“I would like say don’t return to the rebels. You were imprisoned for four months now, since August. So you are freed today, change yourselves, if you go and return to the rebels that’s something else. We release on God’s will for Christmas if you repeat you will meet your fate” Malong said.
The army commander underscored that life is returning to normalcy in Kajo-Keji, with major town opening up and youth returning home compared to the time he was deployed to the county. He promised to leave a good legacy of peace and stability in the area during his time.