W. Bahr el Ghazal court acquits former Wau County commissioner
April 21, 2013 (JUBA) – Members of Western Bahr el Ghazal state’s Balanda community on Sunday celebrated the acquittal of former Wau County commissioner, John Peter Miskin and several others who had been charged with masterminding violence that erupted in December.
Protests following the decision to relocate the administrative headquarters of Wau County led to the death of at least 20 people in series of incidents in December. The police have denied shooting at protestors despite a video broadcast by Al Jazeera appearing to show armed men in uniform firing at unarmed demonstrators on 9 December.
In March, Miskin was brought before the court in Wau town charged on ten, including mobilising young people to destabilize the state following his resignation in October 2012.
However, nine of the charges were dropped on March 26, an the last charge scrapped on 18 April.
Judge Bouka Ajowaj, who was presiding over the case, said he did not, under Article 52 of the South Sudan punishment law, find any evident for which he should have condemned Miskin, although he was accused of masterminding the violence.
Kur Lual Kur, a defence lawyer for Miskin said in an interview with Sudan Tribune on Saturday that all charges against his client have been dismissed by the court due to lack of sufficient evidence, leaving him a free man in the town.
“I am glad to inform you and the readers of the Sudan Tribune world my client and your leader, John Peter Miskin has been acquitted by the special court. The court did not find any sufficient evident to charge him, Kur said on Saturday
He said he knew his client would be set free because there were no sufficient evident presented by the government when the hearing for the trial commenced.
“I knew my client would be released though it was not easy for the judiciary and me but we succeeded because there was no evidence in the first place. The government could not produce evident before the court”, Kur said Saturday He said other Members of Parliament including Hassan Ngor Aguer and former State Government Minister for Information Sebit Baptism have also been acquitted.
Kur said people are not arrested and sentenced based on suspicion in law but on hard facts and evident. “It is possible to succeed because in law, fact works. We do not work on allegations. We work on hard facts supported by evidence. We do not rely on hearsay or suspicion”, Kur told Sudan Tribune with a background of celebration. “Yes there is celebration taking place not only here in Wau but also in Juba where you area”, he said
“They are overwhelmed with joy. The acquittal will only restore confidence of the citizens in the judiciary system of this country but It will also restore trust and confidence of independence of the judiciary”, he explained.
Miskin confirmed his release and commended judiciary for setting the records straight, despite alleged attempts by the state administration to intimidate judges.
“I have been set free at last. This is a big victory to our people and they have the right to celebrate. It was not about me. It was about them”, Miskin said Sunday without giving additional comments. John Peter Miskin is a freeman since Thursday said Alfred Bagari. “All the allegations against him have been dismissed by the court. It is a big achievement in the judiciary system in this country”, Bagari said Saturday.
(ST)