45 prisoners released from jail in Rumbek
By Manyang Mayom
February 8, 2008 (RUMBEK) – Forty-five (45) prisoners were released last Tuesday from Lakes State Central Prison by Judge Kurkur Patiya, from the Supreme Court of Greater Bhar-El-Gazal in Lakes state.
The release of the prisoners came in as the government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) established a special court last year in an effort to reduce the trend of rising crimes in Lakes State caused by persistent inter-tribal clashes and inter-clan clashes.
Insecurity had tied the hands of the Lakes state government and many have complained that the latter is unable to deliver services to its citizens. However since the crackdown by southern Sudan army to weed out pockets of insecurity services have improved.
The governor, Daniel Awet, has been praised for spreading security in different parts of the Lakes State. According to some executives’ members in Lakes state, the cabinet decided to make 2008 “a year for development”.
Patiya is a member of the judges touring the state in an effort to cut down the number of prisoners in the South. Patiya said the prisoners were released because the evidence against them was weak and provided no basis for prosecution.
A Lakes official told Sudan Tribune that among the 45 prisoners released, some were charged with adultery while others were accused of cattle theft in addition to some murder cases. The time these prisoners spent in jail ranged from a few months to a couple of years he added.
“Life in Prison is very useless life…we were been treated like dogs by prisons officers throughout the time we spent, we have organized many protests inside the prison asking for our rights and the authorities refused to listen to us…now I am free and I’m appealing to all females and males to distance themselves from trouble making;” a former prisoner said.
(ST)
Mr Famous Big_Logic_Boy
45 prisoners released from jail in Rumbek
Its really good to bring people to justics by punishment but i beleive that murders should be enjoying the life in jail as long as they can surrender to commit or offend it again,it should be around 24-28yrs for murders while ordinary case should be extended according to the case and evidences,security should be the major source of a country.
thanks for this justices of being practice in SS
Lat Dak Nyaroah
45 prisoners released from jail in Rumbek
Lakes State Oyee! CPA Oyee! Human Rights Oyee!
Brothers and sisters in Lakes state, few years ago, many people across this country(South Sudan) had been complaining about you and now you have improved drastically without dout. H.E Daniel Awet Akot Governor of Lakes state has done a lot because he is mature in age, in SPLM as well as in humanity. Such leaders are the ones we need in this nation. Bravo to Justice Kurkur for releasing the 45 prisoners. To respect human rights mean a lot in transforming people from committing crims into building a nation. I hope the lucky ones who have been released have learnt a lesson and will be firm believers of the say that goes, ‘once beaten twice shy’.
Of course murderers should have not been released but if the justice find no evidences, than they might have been put in prison because of allegations(common in our context).
Job well done but more still ahead.
Lat Dak Nyaroah
Kenya Methodist University