Warrap Governor Nyadeng Malek had eight prisoners freed after she paid their outstanding court fees and fines for them.

Two women and six men were immediately released after Malek paid the 3,542 South Sudanese pounds on their behalf.

“What normally happened during the important days, like Christmas and Independence Day, people with minor fines in prison are handed to the authority and that was what we did,” said Acting Prisons Director Brigadier General Deng Aleer. “Some people in prison cannot pay the fine fees to the court and those were the people released by the governor.”

Deng said the former prisoners will be given certificates to prove their official release and prevent any future harassment.