Lakes: 4 suspects arrested over road ambush

May 13, 2013 (RUMBEK) – Four people have been arrested in connection with last week’s highway robbery incident, in which a senior South Sudan army (SPLA) official was injured in Lakes state.

David Marial Gumke, the Rumbek East commissioner, said those arrested are being treated as suspects, while the most wanted member of the gang remains at large.

Machol Deng Ring, a senior security officer, suffered a gunshot wound after a group of armed men appeared in front of the car and immediately opened fire on Friday.

The incident occurred in Pacuok, just after Bar-Naam bridge in Lakes state’s Rumbek East County, at about 8pm.

“Four suspected people were arrested on Saturday morning just after they shot the car in evening of Friday night. The car was carrying SPLA Major Machol Deng Ring at Pacuok,” Gumke told Sudan Tribune Monday.

Our police forces are still hunting the most wanted suspected who carried out seven attacks on the highway, he said, adding that those arrested are still in custody.

A series of highway robberies have taken place in Lakes state in recent months, with counties such as Rumbek East, Rumbek North, Wulu and Cueibet, said to be the worst affected.

“Now there are investigations going on and those road robberies [incidents] are being handled by Special Forces,” stressed the commissioner.

Early this year, South Sudan president, Salva Kiir, removed the elected governor, Chol Tong Mayay, replacing him with a military caretaker, Matur Chut Dhuol over growing insecurity in the region.

Since he assumed office, however, the new governor has initiated tough security forms, with his critics labeling his policies “dictatorial”.

(ST)