On October 20, 2025, Geng ordered the release of a hotel owner and five employees who had been detained since March over the mysterious deaths of three sisters — Achol Waat Arol (21), Achol Chol Arol (19), and Abeny Chol Arol (15) — whose bodies were discovered in a room at Freedom Hotel in Juba’s Atlabara neighbourhood.
The minister also directed the reopening of the hotel, which had been shut down following the incident.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Kuol Deng, an SPLM-IO lawmaker representing Lakes State, accused the minister of abusing his authority by ordering the suspects’ release while investigations were still ongoing.
“My point of information this morning concerns the decision taken by the Minister of Justice in the case of the three girls who were killed,” Deng told the House. “Right Honourable Speaker, this decision is an abuse of power.”
Deng called on the minister to appear before the assembly and justify his actions, emphasising that only the police and judiciary should determine the suspects’ guilt or innocence.
“This is a criminal case. It is for the police to investigate and for the courts to decide — not the minister,” he added.
In response, Geng explained that the suspects were released on bail after their lawyers complained of prolonged detention without trial.
“The lawyers for the suspects raised concerns that their clients had been in custody for too long and that the case should proceed to court,” Geng said.
He noted that the Director of Public Prosecution reviewed the complaint and approved the bail, while ordering that the hotel room where the deaths occurred remain closed as it is still considered a crime scene.
