JUBA – Reports indicating that South Sudan’s suspended petroleum minister Puot Kang Chol and other SPLM/A-IO detainees were released from National Security Service (NSS) have widely circulated on social media on Tuesday. But such reports are false.
Several online users posted information that Kang, SPLA-IO military chief General Duop Lam and other opposition detainees were released from the NSS jail.
Another social media user, one Gai R Manguet, also claimed that Kang and other detainees have not been freed but that they were indeed moved to a rental apartment where they were under 24-hour security watch.
“They have not been released. But Hon. Puot together with other comrades who were detained in Blue House are moved from blue house and shifted to rental apartment where they’ll wait for their trials,” Gai stated.
He further claimed that Kang and other detainees met their leader Dr. Riek Machar at his heavily deployed residence on Tuesday. But the source also claimed: “Unfortunately, Gen. Duop Lam is still at the headquarter of the Tiger division.”
However, Gatdet Dak Lampuar, the former spokesperson of Dr. Riek Machar, clarified in a statement that all those reports were misinformation, adding that the officials have not been released.
“Clarification. There is misinformation trending online that Cde Puot Kang Chuol, et al, have been either released or relocated to a rented apartment while awaiting trial, or met with H.E. Dr. Riek Machar at his residence in Juba,” he stated.
“All these are false! Cde Puot Kang and our other detained Comrades ‘with him’ are still at the Blue House. We shall overcome it.”
On September 11, the justice minister announced the “conclusion of investigations into the Nasir incident March 3-7” and that 83 suspects were interrogated, 21 were indicted, 8 were under arrest and charged, 76 were discharged for lack of evidence, and 13 remained at large.
Those charged include Machar, Chol, Duop Lam, Dhuor, Puoch, Gatmai, Mading Riek Yak, and Dominic Gatgok Riak. They are charged with murder, treason, conspiracy and common intention, destruction of public property and military assets, terrorism financing, and crimes against humanity.
President Salva Kiir simultaneously suspended Machar as first vice president and Chol as petroleum minister.