Top FM furniture including desks and chairs thrown out by Juba High Court. | Photo: Courtesy

The premises of Top FM – a community radio in Juba, was locked on Tuesday upon a court order, the station manager said, amid dispute between men fighting for land-lordship.

Wulu Deng said police officers sent by Juba High Court evicted the station’s staff and threw out work furniture.

In an interview with Eye Radio, he said the station – whose frequency is 89.7 FM- is still on air, but that it is working on automation because journalists have been locked out.

Deng narrated that there’s an ongoing court case involving two people claiming the premises rented by the station.

He said at around 11:00 AM on June 20, Juba High Court sent police to seize the compound without prior notice to the station and threw most of the station’s properties were thrown outside.

“This case is going on in Juba High Court but this morning (Tuesday), Juba High Court sent police to close the compound and even the radio station saying all the places are under their full responsibility until further notice.”

“The radio is still on-air, our properties are thrown out and as station manager, I cannot leave the place until everything is okay.”

He said this has caused interruptions in their daily operation as journalist cannot assess the premises.

Deng is appealing to the authorities of the juba high court

“My message is, we are delivering community service. Even if there’s a land dispute, Juba High Court is supposed to inform me that they are going to close the compound.”

Meanwhile, South Sudan Police Spokesperson Major General Daniel Justin said he has no information about the incident.

But General Justin said those could be officers deployed at the court to implement orders given by the court.

“I have no information. There’s police attached to the court and they’re there to implement the orders of the court, but you can find out.”