Kuel Aguer Kuel | Credit | Courtesy

Juba High Court adjourned the second hearing in the case of the former governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Kuel Aguer Kuel, to Wednesday next week.

One of the defense lawyers, Sohila Deng said the hearing session was postponed because the presiding judge was occupied with other activities.

She said the session was also rescheduled in order for the defense to cross-examine the police investigator and discuss the documents and exhibits he presented at the session.

“Due to the preoccupation of one of the judiciaries with some matters, the session was postponed to next week,” the defense lawyer told Eye Radio.

Aguer appeared before a special court on Monday, for the first time since his arrest last year.

He is being accused of violating several sections of the Penal Code Act 2008, along with six others including activists Wani Michael, Jame David Kolok, Rajaf Mohandis, Manas Mathiang, Daniel Makau and Abraham Awenlieth.

The government critics and activists, some of whom were signatories to the 2018 revitalized agreement were indicted on charges of subverting constitutional government, attempting to overthrow the government by unconstitutional mean and causing disaffection among security forces.

“In the previous session, the investigator presented all the documents and exhibits regarding the invitation, and due to the lack of time on that day, the session was postponed to Friday,” said Sohila.

“As you know, the court was formed by a jury that was supposed to discuss the detective regarding the documents and exhibits.”

Aguer was arrested on August 3^rd, 2021 after he allegedly signed a document linked with the social media-based group, the People’s Coalition for Civil Action.

The online movement, to which Kuel is accused of having connived with, called for nationwide protests and the resignation of the unity government citing the failure of the revitalized agreement.

For over a year, the politician-turned-government critic has been in prison, and family members said his health condition is deteriorating in jail.