Former Nasir County lawmaker, Hon. Gatwech Lam Puoch, an SPLM-IO appointee. (Photo: Courtesy)

The special court proceedings in Juba heard claims from the third accused on Monday that members of the National Security Service arrested him without a warrant and dismissed his parliamentary immunity.

Gatwech Lam Puoch made the statements while presenting his defense during the 88th session of the court sitting in Juba. The session began with attendance registration by the defense and prosecution teams. The seventh accused did not attend due to illness.

Gatwech stated that he previously named officials who conducted a propaganda campaign against the defendants. He named Presidential Advisor Kuol Manyang Juk as the first official to label them as criminals on August 12, 2026, during a meeting with an African Union Peace and Security Council delegation. The delegation had called for the release of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and detainees to advance dialogue and peace agreement implementation.

Gatwech alleged that Kuol Manyang told the delegation: “There are no political detainees, but criminals who will face justice.” He claimed that Justice Minister Michael Makuei repeated the characterization before parliament on May 11, 2026.

The prosecution objected during the hearing, arguing that the narrative wasted the court’s time, and asked the bench to direct the accused to focus on the charges. The court instructed Gatwech to stay on point but allowed him to continue his testimony.

Gatwech then alleged that statements delivered by officials at the funeral of Major General David Majur blamed the SPLM-IO and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar for the Nasir attack before investigations concluded. The court intervened again, reminding the accused to remain focused on the charges.

Gatwech turned to the nature of his arrest, claiming that the detention of the First Vice President and the seven accused persons was an attempt to end the peace agreement.

He alleged that National Security Service officers in civilian clothing intercepted him while armed and informed him of his arrest, demanding his phone, identification cards, and money. When he asked for an arrest warrant, the officer stated there was none.

Gatwech added that he invoked his parliamentary immunity, but the officer dismissed it, stating that immunity does not apply. He said he went to the National Security Service premises where he handed over his belongings.

The accused argued that the arrest of SPLM-IO members serving in government undermined institutions, claiming that bodies responsible for implementing the peace agreement ceased to function.

The court adjourned at the close of the session and will reconvene on June 17 to continue hearing Gatwech’s testimony.