Judge and gavel in courtroom - (Photo: Courtesy).

Members of the People’s Coalition for Civil Action, accused of plotting to over throw the government will be tried in absentia, says Juba court.

The defendants are Abraham Awolich, Rajab Muhandis, Wani Michael, Jame David Kulok, Manas Mathiang, and Daniel Makau.

The activists and government critics, along with Kuel Aguer the former governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, are accused of violating several sections of the law.

The government accuses them under sections 48, 52, 63, 66, 74, 75, 76 and 80 of the penal code act 2008.

The sections talk about Acts Committed by Several Persons in Furtherance of Common Intention, Abetment, Attempting to Commit Offenses Punishable with Imprisonment and Subverting Constitutional Government.

Others are Causing Disaffection among Police Force or Defense Forces, Publishing or Communicating False Statements Prejudicial to South Sudan, Undermining Authority of or Insulting President, and Participating in Gathering with Intent to Promote Public Violence, Breaches of the Peace or Bigotry, respectively.

“We pray to the honorable court, the prosecution panel on behalf of the Republic of South Sudan, ministry of justice, directorate of public prosecutor, pray your honorable court to convict, punish and sentence the above mentioned accused, in accordance with the provision of the above charges of the penal code act 2008,” says Latjor Kueth Jal, the chairperson of the prosecution panel.

He was presenting the case at the opening of the special court in Juba on Monday.

On October 3, Kuel was produced before the court for the first time since his arrest last year, to hear the case against him.

His defense lawyer Kiir Chol Deng said his client, who stand the same charges as the other defendants, will have a chance to question the evident presented by the prosecutor on October 7.

Aguer was arrested on August 3^rd, 2021 after he signed document linked with the online movement, the People’s Coalition for Civil Action.

The social media movement is said to have plotted unrest and called for a nationwide protest and the resignation of the unity government citing failure of the revitalized agreement.

The absenting respondents, some of whom were signatories to the revitalized agreement fled the country after Kuel’s arrest.

The government reportedly ordered for the freezing of their bank accounts and closed down the organization they worked for.

They are yet to respond to the matter.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been CORRECTED due to an error that appeared in the story. Please disregard our early reference to Kuel Aguer as a former member of the Sudd Institute. Kuel was not a member of the Think-Tank, but a former governor of Northern Bahr El Ghazal State. EYE RADIO apologizes to the Sudd Institute for the error reflected in the story. We also apologize to the readers and the general public for the error and promise to do due diligence with our stories to avoid such mistakes and errors reoccurring in the future. Thank you for your understanding.