The Special Court for the Gumbo-Sherikat conflict in Juba has sentenced two convicts to death by hanging for their role in clashes resulting from a land dispute that left scores dead and others injured mid-last year. 

On June 3, 2020, Lt. Col. Lual Akok Wol Kiir, since deceased and said to have been a relative of President Salva Kiir was involved in an altercation over land in the Gumbo-Sherikat area East of Juba city. During the ensuing melee, Col. Lual Akok’s bodyguards are said to have opened fire on a crowd, killing five people on the spot and injuring others. 

Lual Akook himself sustained injuries which he succumbed to in hospital the next day. 

Justice Duoth Kulang Bichiok, the president of the special court, yesterday ruled and sentenced two of the convicts to death by hanging and fined another.

“The criminal case No. 1296/2020 was brought before this court by the police prosecution/attorney against the accused persons of group B with charges of a joint act under sections 48/52/53/6279/81/83/177/206/305/315 of the Penal Code Act, 2008 which committed against the victims among them the late Lual Akok Wol Kiir (Lual Marine) at Gumbo-Sherikat in Juba on 3 June 2020,” Justice Duoth wrote in his ruling.

He said according to sections 224/247 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2008, the court heard the prosecution and defense cases and found that the accused persons are guilty and should be convicted under sections 48/72/79/80/206 of the Penal Code Act 2008 and that sentences should be passed against them jointly or separately under the Penal Code Act 2008.

“We do hereby order that convicted persons should be hanged by their necks until they are dead under sections 48/206 of the Penal Code Act 2008 and they are as follows; 1. Ajith Jok Yor and 2. Malith Yuol Deng,” Justice Duoth ruled. “Convict Mayen Dau Deng should be fined 500,000 SSP. In default of payment he is to serve five (5) years imprisonment with effect from the date of arrest on 17 June 2020 under sections 48/79 of the Penal Code Act 2008.”

The court also ruled that the Group B case paper be sent to the Supreme Court for confirmation after 15 days and said the parties in the case have a right to appeal within 15 days from the date of judgment.