By Yiep Joseph
Suspended Petroleum Minister Puot Kang (accused No.1) on Friday denied allegations levelled against him, saying that the prosecution witnesses and their testimonies were politically motivated.
Investigators and witnesses had alleged that Kang coordinated and funded youth and SPLA-IO forces to carry out attacks on Nasir.
However, during the 77 sessions of the trial, Kang rejected the allegations, asserting they were politically motivated.
He claimed that witnesses made the allegations from one side of the conflict. Kang added that some of the witnesses who testified against him were “just hired to meet the interests of those who arrested him and his colleagues.”
“The four witnesses, No. 7, 8, 9 and 10, who were brought from Nasir are guns for hire, and they are all from one political party or on one side of the conflict,” Kang said.
“They are part of the same political party that arrested us and brought us to this honourable court,” he added.
He told the court that, due to being from one party, the prosecution witnesses could act in favour of their party rather than speak the truth.
“This alone tells you that these testimonies are politically motivated,” he said.
Kang accused prosecution witnesses numbered 7, 8, 9, and 10 of fabricating testimony during examination-in-chief, saying allegations that he financed the attack were politically motivated.
“The witnesses numbered 8, 9 and 10 did not have any contact with me directly, and we do not even know each other,” he said.
He also said prosecutors had failed to provide evidence showing that money was sent to Nasir.
“In particular, the record is devoid of any evidence establishing the identity or registration details of any aircraft allegedly used to transport the funds from Juba to Nasir, or ownership of such aircraft,” he said.
“The prosecution and its witnesses have failed to present any credible or verified evidence demonstrating how such funds were transmitted, the dates of the alleged transfers, or the identity of any aircraft or company involved in transporting the money,” he added.
Kang is one of eight defendants, including First Vice President Riek Machar, 73, facing charges of treason, crimes against humanity, murder, terrorism, and destruction of property over the March 2025 assault on a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) base in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
Prosecutors allege that SPLA-IO forces allied with the White Army militia killed 257 SSPDF soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth about $58 million during the attack.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the hearing until May 18, 2026, for judges to continue questioning Kang.
Kang faces charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, and crimes against humanity.