Category: States

States

Wau activist fined SSP 1.2M for deceitful co-habitation

The County Court in Wau town of Western Bhar El Gazal on Tuesday convicted and fined the Regional Coordinator of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization for deceitfully co-habiting with a former female journalist.

The court found Stephen Robo Musa guilty of impregnating a university student, for the second time despite her parents taking her back home and returning her to school.

25-year-old Rejoice Michael first conceived for Musa in 2018 when she was 18 years- old.

In 2021, she again became pregnant for Musa which angered her parents to file a police case against the civil society activist.

In 2022, Musa was charged with co-habitation.

In a ruling yesterday, the court ordered him to pay one million two hundred and fifty thousand South Sudan pounds to compensate the aggrieved family, and 200 thousand pounds in a court fine.

The County Court Judge, Amira Samuel Machar passed the verdict.

Victime Rejoice Michael confirmed that; “The decision issued by the court today [Tuesday] convicts, the accused committed crime in accordance with the text of Article 264 of the South Sudan Penal Code of 2008.

“As a victim, I did not find justice in the court because at least he had to be sentenced to disciplinary action that would be an example for those who work as activists or those who have money and corrupt the behavior of young girls.

“He noticed that after the court’s decision required him to pay 200,000 pounds, and in the event of non-payment, he would be imprisoned for a year, as well as paying compensation to the family, he immediately paid and left the court buildings.

“I felt injustice here and there was pain in my heart,” she said.

When contacted by Eye Radio, convict Stephen Robo Musa referred the matter to his lawyer who declined to comment.

According to section 264 of the South Sudan Penal Act 2008, any person who is not lawfully married and cohabited by deceit or is believed to have had sexual intercourse commits an offense.

Upon conviction, he or she will be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or with a fine or with both.

$300-allowances not to stop impeachment of CES ministers -Spokesperson

Central Equatoria lawmakers received $300 each in medical allowances on Wednesday, a day the August House was set to impeach three state officials including the Minister of Finance who were accused of corruption, according to a spokesperson.

On Monday, the state August House Speaker Peter Wani Kulang announced he received 30,000 US dollars in medical allowances for the MPs.

Speaking to Eye Radio in an exclusive interview yesterday, Moris Andrea who is the legislature deputy spokesperson says the money was distributed uniformly.

The delivery of the Money coincided with Monday’s seating meant to impeach the Ministers of Cabinet Affairs, Finance and Housing, land, and Utilities who have been accused of exchanging public land with five vehicles.

Asked whether the cash was to disrupt the vote of no-confidence against the three state officials, Andrea said the medical allowances had nothing to do with the motion.

“This money was sent as 30, 000 United States dollars for 100 honorable members of parliament. Each member received 300 dollars and this money has nothing to do with the sitting of the parliament or the impeachment raised against the three state ministers.

“This was previously tabled by the Minister of Finance for their medication.

“My message to all the media houses is they should pick correct and accurate information from the right person instead of picking wrong information and airing it,” he said

Vote to impeach three CES Ministers adjourned indefinitely

Central Equatoria legislature on Wednesday adjourned for the second time sitting to cast a vote of no-confidence against the three state ministers accused of corruption until further notice.

They include the state Ministers of Cabinet Affairs, Finance and Housing, Land, and Public Utilities

The legislature accused Godwill Wayi, Viana Kakuli, and Fred Laku Raymond of exchanging a public plot with five Toyota Landcruisers worth 100,000 US dollars.

According to a fact-finding committee that moved the motion for a vote of no-confidence, it found out that the officials did not meet due legal processes for the disposal of government property.

It established that the ministers exchanged plot number 60 Block 13 with SHI Petroleum Services for 25 years since 2019, and the Investment department was not involved in the process.

However, some members of parliament differed with the move to cast votes of no-confidence after the Speaker suggested a secret ballot.

As a result, discontented MPs boycotted the siting, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the session indefinitely.

The MPs were recalled to resume the motion on Wednesday, but the Speaker adjourned the session yet again.

“The quorum was not enough. That’s why the siting has been adjourned until further notice,” said Morris Andrea, the Deputy Chairperson for Information, Culture Youth, and Sport at the state legislature.

CES reveals alarming road accidents data in ten months

Central Equatoria’s Directorate of Traffic Police has documented 2,714 road accidents in the past ten months, indicating a more than 400 increase in the incidents compared to 2,320 in the same period last year.

This was revealed at the launch of a one-week road safety awareness workshop in Juba.

“They were as follows; in 2022 we registered about 2320 road accidents and in 2023 we registered about 2714 in the same period from January to October.

“There is an increase in traffic accidents, and most of these accidents are due to recklessness and high speed, as well as overtaking by motorcycle drivers,” said Major General, Zacharia Michael Taban, the Director of Traffic Central Equatoria,

A WHO 2020 data indicated that traffic accident deaths in South Sudan had reached 4,063 or 4.84% of total deaths.

According to Major General Zacharia, drunk driving is the leading cause of road accidents in the state.

He says the workshop which is the first since the independence of South Sudan is to implement the Road Safety week.

“This is the first time in the history of South Sudan that we have implemented a traffic safety week, but it will not be the last.

“We will implement this awareness annually here in Central Equatoria State in cooperation with UN agencies and other organizations such as the South Sudan Red Cross Committee.

“Driving under the influence of alcohol is the reason for the increase in traffic accidents and most of these accidents involve motorcycle drivers.

The week-long event is being held under the theme; ‘Road Safety Begins with Me’ is organized by the Directorate of Road Traffic Police in Central Equatoria state with support from the South Sudan Red Cross Committee.

Road Safety Week is celebrated during the third week of November each year.

It is often a nationwide campaign that focuses on raising awareness about road safety issues, including the prevention of accidents, injuries, and fatalities on the road.

It emphasizes the importance of responsible driving, pedestrian safety, and the need for improved road infrastructure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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