Call to question ex-governor over wife’s death in prison

Civil society activists in Lakes State have appealed to the law enforcement agencies to apprehend the former governor of the defunct Western Lakes State and a military general, John Deng Mamer, for the prolonged detention and the eventual death of his wife.

The wife died at the Rumbek Central prison last Monday.

The governor allegedly detained the wife over the allegations that she intended to escape with the children to Bor.

In 2021, the former governor’s second wife committed suicide by shooting herself to death in her house in Deng Nhial area of Rumbek Central county.

A civil society activist, Daniel Laat Kon, told Radio Tamazuj that the local authorities should question the former governor over the death of his wife in detention.

“We are appealing to the law enforcement agencies to probe the former governor over the two incidences. These are serious incidences and we urge the authorities not to remain silent,” he said.

Meanwhile, the medical director of Rumbek State hospital, Terran Madit Terral, confirmed the death of the former governor’s wife in prison.

He said the cause of the death after postmortem was revealed as breast cancer, which had been diagnosed in the past, but was not treated after her long detention.

“She was brought from Rumbek Central prison to Rumbek State hospital lifeless. It seemed like she passed on while she was on the way or in Rumbek central prison,” he said.

Attempts to reach the former governor for comment were unsuccessful.