Yambio, May 11 2025 – The convicted officers—Hakim Harun, John David, and Elias Taban—were found guilty under Section 4.8/210 of the South Sudan Penal Code. According to court documents reviewed by Radio Tamazuj, the incident took place on January 14, 2025, in Ibba County, where the woman died after being severely beaten while in police custody.
Chief Judge Angelo Daniel Yor presided over the case, registered as file number 55-2025 R.I.R. No. 17. The investigation was carried out at Police Station 188A, and the evidence presented confirmed the direct involvement of the officers in the brutal acts that led to the victim’s death.
Beyond the six-year custodial sentences, the court also imposed financial penalties. The three officers were ordered to jointly pay 15 million South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) as compensation to the victim’s family. An additional 3.4 million SSP was mandated to cover legal expenses, a move that further underlined the court’s commitment to ensuring full restitution for the family.
Court officials emphasized that the ruling was not only about delivering justice in a single case, but also about setting a precedent. It was described as a warning to law enforcement officers who abuse their power and a signal to the public that justice institutions can, indeed, function with integrity when pressure for accountability is sustained.
The local government has responded positively to the ruling. Wilson Tetela, the commissioner of Ibba County, stated that the verdict met public expectations. “People were eager to see these officers convicted to ensure fairness,” Tetela said. “This judgment sends a message that such acts must not happen again and that no one is above the law—not even me as commissioner.”
Community leaders have also expressed satisfaction with the outcome. Marona Sako, acting paramount chief of Madebe Payam in Ibba County, told Radio Tamazuj that the community accepted the court’s ruling without protest. “There have been no complaints from civilians. The case was handled properly, which is why people are at peace,” he said.
Chief Sako urged residents to channel any remaining frustrations through legal means, not through violence or retaliation. “We must learn to trust the law. This case shows that justice is possible when the system is allowed to work,” he added.
Human rights groups have cautiously welcomed the verdict, calling it a step in the right direction, though many argue that systemic reforms in policing and detention practices are urgently needed to prevent such tragedies in the future.
As the officers begin their prison terms and compensation plans are implemented, many in Western Equatoria are watching closely. The hope is that this rare moment of accountability may serve as the foundation for broader justice sector reforms in South Sudan—a nation long plagued by impunity.
