JUBA – The lead investigator in the Nasir incident told the court on Monday that suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar knew about the mobilization of local armed youths that attacked the SSPDF and failed to stop the killing of stranded army troops.
During the 12th trial session in Juba, the prosecution cross-examined lead investigator Maj. Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani following the conclusion of his initial testimony against the eight accused SPLM/A-IO officials.
Gen. Basilio previously told the court that the first accused, suspended National Minister of Petroleum Hon. Puot Kang Chol, was directly involved in the Nasir attack by allegedly sending $30,000 to mobilize the White Army to assault the SSPDF garrison of Wech-Yar-Adiu in Nasir.
During the Monday session, the second accused, the investigator identified businessman Mam Pal Dhuor as a financier and liaison. He alleged that Mr. Dhuor facilitated money transfers to support operations and shared casualty lists via WhatsApp with commanders of the Armed Youth.
The third accused, Hon. Gatwech Lam Puoch, was accused of disseminating intelligence and aiding Armed Youth mobilization.
The investigator claimed that, during a press conference in Juba, Hon. Puoch opposed the SSPDF’s “unilateral decision” to deploy forces to Nasir, arguing that these forces were not purely SSPDF but included Agwelek and Abushok militias, rather than unified forces.
The fourth accused, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, was accused of sharing classified military information and failing to alert SSPDF command—despite his position as SSPDF Deputy Chief of Defense Forces—about imminent attacks.
The investigator claimed that Gen. Duop discussed procuring machine-gun rounds with SPLA (IO) field commanders in late 2024. It is not clear how the arms purchase is connected to the Nasir incident.
Meanwhile, the investigator said the fifth accused, Dr. Riek Machar, authorized local teams that mobilized the Armed Youth for coordinated attacks on the SSPDF base, then failing to prevent the killing of stranded SSPDF soldiers.
Gen. Basilio alleged that Dr. Machar communicated with then-Nasir County Commissioner James Gatluak Lew and SPLA-IO commanders, persuading SSPDF officers to abandon their weapons inside their Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) before boarding UN helicopters—actions that allegedly enabled the Armed Youth and SPLA (IO) forces to seize the weapons and execute Gen. David Major Dak and other soldiers.
The sixth accused, Brig. Gen. Camilo Gatmai Kel, was accused of sharing official documents without authorization and facilitating the movement of unlicensed weapons linked to the attacks.
The seventh accused, Lt. Mading Yak Riek, was accused of sharing classified details of SSPDF troop movements with SPLA (IO) commanders via WhatsApp. The SPLM (IG) investigator claimed this information was retrieved from Mading’s phone before being deleted.
The eighth accused, Dominic Gatgok Riek, was alleged to have circulated, via WhatsApp, a list of SPLA-IO officers promoted after the Nasir garrison attack as a “reward for victory.”
The lead defense lawyer, Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge, repeatedly objected to the prosecution’s evidence, arguing that the questions were leading and prejudicial.
The three-judge panel adjourned the session to Wednesday, October 22, 2025, for further proceedings.