By Chol D. Johnson
Upper Nile state Governor, Jacob Dollar Ruot has pardoned twelve inmates with minor cases at Malakal prison.
Speaking to this outlet on Friday, Peter Ngwojo Akwiny, the Upper Nile state information minister said Governor Dollar has pardoned the 12 inmates during his courtesy visit at the prison.
“It’s true, yesterday, Governor Jacob Dollar had a courtesy visit to Malakal main Prison, where he visited and released12 inmates with minor cases including 3 women” he said.
Ngwojo emphasized that the purpose of his visit was to assess the challenges and physically observe their living conditions.
He underlined that during their conversation, Dollar encouraged inmates to keep hoping for future life.
Ngowjo expressed that governor listened to the cases from the administration of the prison and after, he released 12 inmates with minor incidents.
He revealed that the Governor paid the compensation in order to release those 12 inmates hence reuniting with their families.
Ngwojo mentioned that some of the inmates has been in prison for a year, six months, without even being taken for trial.
“Some of inmates are waiting for a year, six months, without even being brought to the trial” he mentioned.
He noted that the total number of the inmates were 90, and then like 53 were convicted, and other number are waiting.
Ngwojo highlighted that after resident judge in Malakal, the inmate’s population at the main prison has improved and decreased from 256 in 2025 to 90 this year.
“We received a resident judge in Malakal and he came and cleared all these cases, the number reduced from 256 to 78 after the release of 12 inmates” he said.
He stressed that during the visit, Governor also donated food items to inmates to help cover issues regarding food shortage.