Four security personnel listen as the High Court at Juba Central Prison sentences them to 24 years in prison on Thursday, April 2, 2026. The group was convicted of an armed raid and robbery at the residence of a senior police official in Juba last year. Photo Credit: SSNPS

The High Court sitting at Juba Central Prison has handed down a 24-year prison sentence to five security personnel found guilty of a violent armed robbery at the residence of a high-ranking police official.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Sabit Bolan, concludes a case that began on July 13, 2025, following a brutal attack in Juba’s Gudele 2 suburb.

According to court findings, an armed group stormed the home of Major General Stephen Warikozi, the Director for Research and Planning in the Ministry of Interior.

The assailants entered the premises while the General was attending a family gathering, forcefully taking control of the house.

The court heard how the attackers held the General’s wife and son at gunpoint, forcing them to search the residence. During the ordeal, the group stole three licensed firearms and an unspecified amount of cash.

Before fleeing the scene, the assailants opened fire, wounding General Warikozi in the leg and his daughter in the abdomen.

A swift investigation by the South Sudan National Police Service led to the identification of a suspect known to the complainant. Subsequent inquiries resulted in the arrest of six out of nine accused persons linked to the case.

The prosecution, led by Nawal Ernest, presented judicial confessions and supporting evidence that proved the involvement of the accused in armed robbery and causing grievous bodily harm.

In a stern ruling, the court found all six arrested suspects guilty. Justice Bolan highlighted that five of the convicts were active members of the organized forces who abused their authority and state-issued weapons—a factor the court treated as a grave aggravation in sentencing.

Five convicts were sentenced to 24 years in prison, while a sixth accomplice received a five-year term. The court ordered the convicts to pay fines to the Ministry of Interior for the stolen firearms and provided for compensation to cover the victims’ medical expenses.

Prosecutor Nawal Ernest emphasized that the involvement of security personnel in terrorizing civilians is a serious breach of public trust.

“The involvement of members of the organized forces in such crimes is a grave offense that demands strict punishment,” Ernest stated, adding that the ruling should serve as a powerful deterrent.

Major General Warikozi praised the effectiveness of the investigation, noting that the outcome reinforces the public’s confidence in the rule of law.

“This outcome reaffirms that the rule of law remains the cornerstone of protecting citizens and ensuring public security,” the General said.

He further urged the police to continue strengthening collaboration with community relations committees to combat organized crime nationwide.