By Yiep Joseph
The special court hearing in the case involving Riek Machar and co-accused has been adjourned after judges suspended proceedings to receive and mourn the body of former Chief Justice Ambrose Riiny Thiik.
The former Chief Justice Ambrose Riiny died last week in Kenya at the age of 86.
His body was flown to Juba on Monday, the same day the special court was scheduled to continue its 76th session.
At the start of the session, court attendance was taken as part of normal procedure.
However, Presiding Judge Dr. James Alala Deng announced the adjournment until May 15, stating that the judges would attend the reception and mourning ceremonies of the late Chief Justice.
“We may not proceed because the judges will be attending the reception of the body of the former Chief Justice,” Alala said.
He added that the court could not continue proceedings out of respect for the former chief justice, whom he described as a senior figure in the judiciary.
The session had been scheduled for the continuation of the defence statement of one of the accused, Puot Kang Chol.
Chol and other co-accused, including Dr. Machar, are facing charges of murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, and crimes against humanity in connection with fighting in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, in March 2025.
Prosecutors allege that forces linked to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition, together with the White Army militia, attacked a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces garrison in Nasir, resulting in the deaths of 257 soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and the destruction or seizure of military equipment worth approximately $58 million.
Riek Machar remains under house arrest, while the co-accused are being held in National Security Service detention facilities in Juba.
The court is expected to resume proceedings on May 15.