South Sudan national security tries 5 service members for unlawfully detaining civilian

JUBA – South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) has said that it has tried at least five of its members for unlawfully detaining an unnamed civilian, and vowed not to tolerate negative behaviors within the service’s rank and file.

The trial of the NSS officers who include a colonel took place on September 29 in a special tribunal organized by the intelligence agency.

David John Kumuri, the spokesman of the NSS spokesman, said the unidentified NSS colonel had ordered for the arrest of a unnamed civilian and was sued in court along with his bodyguards who said they were instructed by him.

“Yesterday [Thursday], we had a colonel who ordered the arrest of a civilian without the notice of the Internal Security Bureau leadership. And what happened, he was sued in court with his subordinates,” he told Eye Radio in an interview.

“So, we have no compromise on that, one of yesterday [Thursday] and some members of the institution were five but the leader was colonel. The senior one has been taken to court. Of course, now the law will take its course,” he added.

The NSS mouthpiece further said any member of the National Security Service who arrest without the authorization of the leadership of the spy agency will be arrested and will be produced in the court of law to answer for their actions.

“We don’t take laws into our hands, the law is here to be implemented, and once our officers, our NCOs misbehave about the law, and arrest without authorization of the leadership, then the person or the member of that institution will be arrested, detained and investigated, and sued to court,” he added.