Two detained in Unity State’s Leer released after 72 hours, police say

LEER — Police in Leer County, Unity State, on Tuesday released two local officials who had been held for three days following their arrest last week, the county police director said.

Samuel Machul, the police director in Leer County, confirmed the release of former Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) director Paulino Kueh Mawich and Youth Union chairperson Tang Gatgong Riek after the completion of police investigations.

Machul said the two were detained over separate cases linked to statements made on social media and in official letters addressed to the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

He said the youth leader was arrested for allegedly threatening the UN agency, while the former RRC director was accused of making allegations against the current RRC leadership and the acting county commissioner in connection with threats toward UNOPS.

“The youth union chairperson was arrested for allegedly threatening UNOPS, while the former RRC director was arrested for accusing the current RRC director and the acting commissioner of threatening the UN agency,” Machul said.

He said police decided to release both men after the investigation and transferred their cases to the county administration for further handling.

“We decided to free them after the investigation and transfer their cases to the county authorities because they are both officials in Leer County, and such cases can be handled administratively rather than by the police,” he said.

Machul added that disputes involving local officials are typically resolved through county-level administrative mechanisms.