Northern Bahr el Ghazal state government and the Koch Thon Company, a private company on Monday facilitated the release of about 24 inmates convicted of several crimes including theft, drunkenness, and public nuisance.

The 24; eight females and 16 males were freed from Aweil Central Prison after the government and company paid their fines.

Addressing the media during the ceremony, the state governor Tong Akeen Ngor, applauded the private company for the partnership. 

“We visited the Aweil Central Prison this morning based on the good invitation from our local businessman Ali Deng who paid some fines for the convicted females and males. We also as the government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal have paid some fines to ensure some are freed,’’ said Akeen. “We freed 24 female and male detainees and we the state government have changed our policy in recent times to ensure the prison is not crowded.”

Some of the inmates who spoke to Radio Tamazuj expressed happiness for their freedom. 

“We are the ones who disturb our government because we are released and rearrested after committing crimes. In such a way, the government will not cooperate with us, it is better to inform all people of South Sudan to go to work and support our government by all means. It is not good for us to go and commit crimes,” said Aguer John, one of the freed detainees.

Akon Dut Uguak, a mother of a one-year-old baby boy said she was grateful for the intervention and that she was happy to go back to her family.

"I am so happy because I will go to stay with my children and manage my property and reap my harvest,” she added.