By Yiep Joseph
The suspended petroleum minister and first accused, Puot Kang Chol, on Monday told the Special Court that he repeatedly rejected pressure from government officials to denounce Dr. Riek Machar while in detention.
Puot made the claims during the 81st court session, where he continued presenting his defense before the Special Court.
In his testimony, Puot recounted a series of encounters that he said began shortly after the swearing-in ceremony of former Vice President Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel on February 12, 2025.
He told the court that after the reception, he accompanied Dr. Benjamin to his residence, where the discussion shifted to the leadership of the SPLM/A-IO.
“After the function (swearing in), we went to his (Dr Benjamin Bol Mel) house; he asked me if I could talk to Dr. Riek Machar to wait for the election while I (Puot) take over from him (Dr. Riek Machar),” Puot told the court.
“My response was that I was not ready for that, and the agreement does not allow such a program,” he added.
The first accused then described what he called continued pressure while in detention at the Riverside detention facility.
He further told the court that investigators later attempted to persuade him to distance himself from Dr. Machar and cooperate fully with the government.
In another account presented before the court, Puot alleged that five days after his interaction with investigators, another officer approached him in detention following the reported arrest of Dr. Machar.
According to Puot, the officer informed him that the implementation of the peace agreement would continue despite Dr. Machar’s arrest and then asked whether he was prepared to publicly denounce the opposition leader.
“Are you ready to come out and denounce Dr. Riek Machar as the Chairman of SPLM/A (IO)?” Puot quoted the officer as asking.
Puot said he demanded to know who had sent the officer but was only told that he had been sent by “the leadership.”
“I informed him that I was not ready to go out to denounce my leader,” Puot testified.
Puot told the court that despite the alleged threats, he remained firm in his position.
The Special Court later adjourned the hearing to Monday, 1 June 2026, when Puot Kang Chol is expected to continue presenting his defense.
Dr. Machar and his co-accused face charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity. Machar remains under house arrest, while the other suspects are being held at facilities run by the National Security Service in Juba.
The co-defendants are Puot Kang Chuol, Mam Pal Dhuor, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek, and Dominic Gatgok Riek.
Prosecutors allege that forces linked to the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition, together with the White Army militia, killed 257 soldiers from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth about $58 million during an attack on the Nasir garrison in March 2025.