The South Sudanese soldier who was sentenced to death on 17 December after a court martial remains detained awaiting confirmation of the sentence, according to the spokesman of the SPLA.

An SPLA court martial sentenced Private Michael Deng Nguen to death after they determined that he targeted and killed a fellow soldier on ethnic grounds after fighting broke out last December.

Nguen is one of the first soldiers to be sentenced for atrocities related to the December violence. The sentence of death by firing squad was referred to the commander-in-chief for confirmation, Radio Tamazuj earlier reported.

Col. Philip Aguer, SPLA spokesman, was yesterday asked to update on the situation of the convicted soldier.

“On the verdict, we will make some inquiry from the military justice department and especially from the office of military justice director. We will inquire from him whether the verdict is really ruled or if it is on the president’s table,” he told Radio Tamazuj.

But he confirmed that the soldier remains in detention and has not been freed. “No, somebody who kills a person can’t stay in his house, he is in a civil prison waiting for the verdict’s execution,” said Aguer.

Meanwhile, other soldiers who were arrested in connection with similar crimes who escaped from detention last March remain on the run. Aguer said authorities are still pursuing the fugitives but he declined to give their names to the media, except that of one officer whom he named only as 'Otong' - a likely reference to General James Otong.

“I don’t have their names, but their numbers can reach up to 100 officers and soldiers,” he said, while also claiming that some have since ran to the ranks of the rebel group led by Riek Machar.

“There was an officer called Otong who was imprisoned after operations in Pibor, then after clashes the prison was opened, so he escaped the prison and moved away with Riek Machar rebels.”

Related:

South Sudan army divided over death sentence for ethnic killing (18 Dec.)

120 suspected army rights violators ‘escape’ Juba military prison (14 March)