By Yang Ater Yang
The former Minister of Finance and Planning, Marial Dongrin Ater, was on Wednesday released from detention at the National Security Service (NSS) “Blue House” facility and placed under house arrest in Juba.
Dr. Dongrin was arrested in February in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes State, and later flown to Juba.
Speaking to the media, Malou Mayom Gum, a relative of the former minister, confirmed that Dr. Dongrin had been transferred from the Blue House detention facility to his residence, where he remains under security supervision.
“The former minister is under house arrest in Juba, not in Rumbek. He will remain in his house under monitoring,” Malou said.
Malou added that house arrest is an improvement compared to detention at the Blue House because the former minister can now stay with his family and interact with visitors.
Civil society activist Daniel Laat Kon also welcomed the move, saying they had received information about Dr. Dongrin’s transfer from detention to house arrest under security observation in Juba.
“This is a positive step because it will allow him to comfort his mother and family members following the loss of his daughter,” Daniel said.
However, he urged the government to address the case quickly, arguing that the prolonged detention amounts to arbitrary detention and violates the law.
“You cannot detain someone beyond the legal time limits without charges,” he said. “The government should resolve the case and release them.”
Daniel noted that authorities have not publicly announced any charges against the former minister.
“Let them be released and move freely so they can rebuild their lives instead of remaining under arbitrary detention or house arrest,” he said. “After such a long detention, a person may require medical attention and freedom of movement.”
He further called on the government to expedite cases involving other detainees and ensure justice is carried out in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile efforts to reach the National security services for comment were not successful at the press time.