By Hou Akot Hou
A high court in Northern Bahr El Gazal state in an effort to decongest the facility, has released 60 inmates who have over stayed for long in prison.
Justice, Majur Lat, the high court judge in the state said that many cases have over stayed, causing backlog.
“The inmates inside are almost reaching 800 and by releasing 60 in the first phase, it would reduce the number, as the facility is overstretched, yet it was meant for 160 prisoners only,” Majur stated.
The judge acknowledged over detention of convicts without fair trials, which made people appeal for cases that resulted in their release.
“Some have been convicted over petty crimes, such as theft and others, which alternatively go for 50,000 SSP fines” the judge said.
“Inside there are different diseases that appear and for this reason there is need for us to intervene as judiciary from time to time. And this is an ongoing process to review the cases. Even the courts of appeal are doing the same thing” He lamented.
Majur said that despite the challenges that they are facing, they are offering legal services by giving justices to all.
In another development, the judge revealed that there is an ongoing registration of land ownership in Aweil, which he believes will reduce cases of land disputes.
According to Majur, the ministry of lands and housing is carrying out mapping which will help diffuse tensions on land grabbing, a critical concern across the state.