Governor Muor forms committee to probe deaths of 7 people in SSPDF detention

By Awan Achiek

The Governor of Warrap State, Kuol Muor Muor on Wednesday formed a 5-member committee to investigate circumstances surrounding the recent deaths of seven people in a detention facility manned by the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF).

It is claimed that the detainees died on Monday, due to suffocation while being locked up in a shipping container belonging to the SSPDF 11th Infantry Division in Kuajok town.

One detainee survived after being rushed to a health facility.

The deceased that included two soldiers were suspected of committing murder and involvement in cattle raiding in Tonj North and Gogrial East counties respectively.

William Wol Mayom, Warrap State Minister of Information and Communication, said in a statement that the committee is headed by the Commander of the 11^th Division of the SSPDF, and deputized by the State Attorney General.

“The suspects perished in the military detention not in the Governor’s State House Container as reported by online media platforms,” he said.

“The suspects were accused of different crimes and were arrested by the military authorities in a wrong facility without notice from the State government,” said Mayom.

He said  that a senior commander of the Brigade Four  of the SSPDF together with soldiers under his command have been detained over the deaths.

Mayom said that four of the detainees were from Tonj North County and 3 others from Gogrial East County.