The National Prison Service says some 30 children have been held at the Juba Prison without trial for years now for allegedly committing various crimes.

The Director General of the National Prison Service says some of the children have been in the prison for eight years without a trial; most of them are now between 12 and 18 years.

Gen Hillary Kuany Aguer told Eye Radio that the cases are still being investigated by the police.

But he said that a person is supposed to be held for a day and then taken to court by the police.

“These small ones, those who are under age are in prison. They are brought in with their competent warrants for the crimes they have done and they can also overstay in prison without being investigated or convicted,” Gen Hillary says.

“So we have juveniles in prison now. It’s also another category. The juveniles are about 30 in Juba prison and the crime they committed was done while he was a juvenile and the trial will be under the section of juveniles,” he explained.

General Kuany says the children are among more than 1,000 inmates who are staying in prison without a trial.
He says the National Prison Service only plays a role of custody but does not investigate cases; the plan now is to open a Reformatory School for children who are in jail.

In June this year, judges went on strike over pay and administrative issues that they said were delaying the delivery of justice. But when contacted by Eye Radio at the time, the Chief Justice declined to comment.