Activist’s court hearing adjourns for next week

By Manyuon Mayen Manyuon, Juba

A scheduled court hearing on Monday for Jonglei State Civil Society Chairperson, who was arrested last week, has been adjourned to May 17, 2021.

After Mr. David Garang was bailed on Saturday, the Prosecutor who leads the case requested for suspension and apology from Mr. Garang but the activist instead turned down the offer and affirmed readiness for court appearance.

The activist was arrested on Wednesday last week in Bor Town for allegedly questioning the sale of President Kiir’s donated food aid meant for Jonglei flood affected victims.

He was later on bailed out on Saturday, a court hearing was scheduled for Monday, howver, in a surprise occurrence, the hearing was adjourned and the reason for its postponement wasn’t formally communicated.  

“I wasn’t told any reason; we were just told that the case is adjourned for May 17, 2021,” Mr. Garang told Juba Echo in an interview this morning.

According to Mr. Garang, he won’t tolerate any further extension that may arise next week.  

Jonglei State’s Bor Municipality and Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, were tasked with the distribution of donated food aid to the vulnerable population in Bor want Mr. Garang charged with defamation.

But, Mr. Garang has on so many occasions claimed that were visible evidences that the food was being sold at Bor’s main market.

“If I have defamed the state government on the issue of food being sold in the market, why are there bags of the same food in the market? We don’t need to deny it,” he said.

“The food was in the market. It has been also distributed to the State ministries and what was given to the civil population was not even enough,” he added.

Attempts to reach Mr. Prosecutor on the case’s suspension today were futile.

Repeated calls to his Office for media interviews got turned down.