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By Emmanuel Garjiek
The defense team for suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar told a special court in Juba on Monday that four of his close allies have gone missing since their arrest by security forces in March.
During the court’s 15th sitting at Freedom Hall, defense lawyer Kur Lual Kur questioned lead investigator Maj. Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani about the whereabouts of Mark Dieu, Par Dang, Kuok Dang, and Hoth Chok, who were allegedly taken from Machar’s residence when he was placed under house arrest on March 26.
“These four individuals were taken from the residence of Dr. Riek Machar and have neither been released nor brought before this court. Where are they?” Kur asked.
Maj. Gen. Wani responded that the four “did not appear in the investigation” and said he did not know where they are currently being held.
Machar, 73, and seven co-defendants face charges of mass murder, treason, crimes against humanity, and destruction of property linked to a March 2025 attack on an army base in Nasir, which left over 200 government soldiers dead. Prosecutors allege that the assault was carried out by forces loyal to Machar’s SPLA-IO movement and a local militia known as the White Army.
#Defense Questions Investigation’s Integrity
Under cross-examination, lawyer Kur challenged the credibility of the investigation, asking Wani whether senior government officials—including Information Minister Michael Makuei, Vice President Taban Deng Gai, Gen. Johnson Olony, Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, and Gen. James Koang—had accused SPLM-IO members of involvement in the Nasir attack before the investigation officially began. Wani said he was unaware of such statements.
Kur also pressed Wani on whether he had personally visited Nasir to verify the alleged incident, to which the investigator replied that he had not, citing security concerns.
Controversy Over Evidence Handling
The session also focused on how evidence seized from Machar’s residence was handled. The court heard that electronic devices, firearms, and other materials were confiscated by the National Security Service (NSS) and later handed to an official investigation committee.
Wani testified that a diplomatic bag containing some of the seized evidence was sent to Pretoria, South Africa, for forensic analysis through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said the process was supervised by South Sudan’s Ambassador to South Africa, Denis Dumo, who oversaw the bag’s return to Juba.
“The diplomatic bag was opened in the presence of the ambassador at our embassy in South Africa and later handed to a private expert before being returned to the investigation committee,” Wani told the court.
Defense lawyers questioned the legality and authenticity of this process, asking whether South Sudan had a formal agreement with South Africa to handle criminal evidence through diplomatic channels. Wani said he was unaware of any such agreement, explaining that international cooperation in criminal cases usually occurs at the government level.
He insisted, however, that all seized materials were properly documented and presented to the court as exhibits. The court also learned that the investigation committee was established after the arrests had already been made.
The prosecution requested the defense to correct procedural errors in its legal documents before responding to its challenges.
The presiding judge adjourned the hearing to Friday, October 31, when cross-examination of additional witnesses will continue.
The co-accused alongside Machar are Puot Kang Chuol (40), Mam Pal Dhuor (37), Gatwech Lam Puoch (66), Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam (53), Camilo Gatmai Kel (47), Mading Yak Riek (45), and Dominic Gatgok Riek (27).
