By Alan Clement
Members of South Sudan’s Transitional National Legislative Assembly have demanded clarity on Justice Minister Dr. Joseph Geng Akech’s decision to release suspects and reopen a hotel linked to the killing of three girls in Juba.
The issue, raised by Kuol Deng, MP for Rumbek North (SPLM‑IO), during Tuesday’s 19th Ordinary Sitting of the TNLA, sparked a tense debate over the limits of ministerial authority in ongoing criminal cases.
Kuol accused the Minister of abusing his powers and violating the Constitution by issuing what he described as “an administrative decision” in a criminal matter still pending before court.
He argued that the release of the suspects and reopening of the hotel amounted to interference in the judicial process. “This is a criminal case that must go through the police and the judiciary,” Kuol told lawmakers.
“The Minister has no power to release suspects before trial. This is an abuse of power, and the House deserves an explanation,” he added.
Other lawmakers joined the debate, with Bol Joseph Agau (NDM) warning that reopening the hotel could compromise evidence and endanger both the accused and the victims’ families.
“A crime scene does not only mean the room where the deaths occurred. It includes the entire perimeter of the premises and should remain closed until the end of litigation,” he said.
Lawmakers also expressed concern that releasing the suspects on bail could expose them to harm, given community tensions and the risk of revenge attacks in such emotionally charged cases.
Justice Minister Dr. Joseph Geng Akech defended his decision as rooted in law and procedure, stressing that his office acted after reviewing appeals and finding that both the prolonged detention of suspects and the continued closure of the hotel went beyond what the law allows.
“The Ministry does not judge or defend cases,” Dr. Geng told Parliament adding, “Our role is to ensure that the law is followed. The case is now before the Court of Appeal, and until it rules, the trial cannot proceed.”
According to a ministerial directive dated 15 October 2025, Dr. Geng overturned an earlier decision by the Acting Undersecretary that had ordered the hotel to remain closed and the suspects to stay in detention. He cited sections 64, 130, 131, and 166 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 2008, which restrict pretrial detention and define how crime scenes may be sealed.
In his directive, the Minister said there was no legal justification to keep the hotel closed once investigations had been completed in June. He noted that the closure order failed to specify the area and duration as required by law, describing its continuation as “unnecessary and absurd in the eyes of the law.”
“I cannot find any legal basis or reasons for the hotel to remain closed since the investigations of this case have been completed since June 2025,” he stated.
Dr. Geng further invoked Articles 14 and 19 of the Transitional Constitution of 2011 (as amended), which guarantee equality before the law and the right to a fair trial. He ordered that only the room where the incident occurred remain sealed until the case goes to trial, while the rest of the hotel should be reopened for public use.
He also directed that the suspects, including the hotel owner, be released on bail pending trial. “Only the specific room where the incident occurred shall remain sealed until the case goes to trial, while the rest of the hotel should be reopened for public use,” the directive stated.
The Minister further instructed the Head of Legal Administration in Central Equatoria State to forward the case to court for hearing and clarified that any aggrieved party had the right to appeal. The private lawyer representing the victims’ family has already lodged an appeal before the Court of Appeal for Greater Equatoria Circuit.
Deputy Speaker Parmena Awerial reminded MPs that while the matter is sensitive, it must be handled in accordance with parliamentary and judicial procedures.
“Issues of rights and justice must not be discussed without regard to the law or the facts,” he cautioned, advising Kuol Deng to table a formal motion if further debate is needed.
The case, registered under Criminal Case No. 2174/2025, involves the deaths of three young women found in a hotel room in Atlabara Residential Area in March this year. Investigations were completed in June, and the case remains under appeal.