Prophet Abraham Chol was indicted in court on accusations of having conspired to overthrow the unity government. (Photo: Michael Daniel.)

The general-prosecutor on Wednesday indicted religious leader Abraham Chol on accusations of forming a group and instigating conspiracy to topple to the unity government.

Abraham Chol, 55, appeared in court for the second time alongside four others including a media personal Daniel Malith, security guard Samuel Mayan and two immigration officers James Lal and David Chan.

The general prosecutor Majur Deng Alor, in his indictment speech, accused Prophet Abraham Chol and four others of inciting the public and organizing forces to rise against the government.

He was indicted under section 66, 74, 7, 76, 201 and 202 of the Penal Code Act 2008.

The sections are Subverting Constitutional Government, Causing Disaffection among Police Force or Defence Forces, Publishing or Communicating False Statements Prejudicial to Southern Sudan, and Undermining Authority of or Insulting President.

Others sections referred to by the prosecutor are Insulting or Inciting Contempt of Religious Creed, Abuse of Religious and Noble Beliefs, Acts Committed by Several Persons in Furtherance of Common Intention among others.

General-prosecutor Majur Deng demanded that the penalty stipulated in the indictment be carried out.

“The defendants forming an illegitimate body under the umbrella of a church and exploiting the church for political purposes to undermine the constitutional order in the country through illegal means,” he said.

“You also prepare them as a background for the regime, as well as inviting the citizens and the regular forces to come out against the government.”

But his defense lawyer Yasmin Ahmed Khamis argued that Chol has the right to freedom of expression, in accordance with the 2011 Transitional Constitution.

Yasmin argued preaching a transfer of power of the President through God is not a crime.

“We refuse to set a judicial precedent condemning freedom of peaceful expression,” she said to the court.

“This is according to their statement signed last year the question is, is preaching a peaceful transfer of power a crime? The accused is free to exercise his constitutional right and the law stipulated in Article 24 of South Sudan constitution.”

Prophet Abraham Chol appeared in court last week, after a year in arbitrary detention at Juba Central Prison.

The religious leader was arrested last year with four others, for making a prophesy that President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr Riek Machar would be kicked out of office on Independence Day 9 July 2021.

The Presiding Judge Somia Mohamed Saleh adjourned the session to Monday next week to allow investigations into alleged evidences.