Lawyers representing suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar on Monday asked the Special Court trying him and seven co-defendants to allow them to visit him at his residence in Juba’s Amarat neighborhood to prepare his defense ahead of the next hearing.
Machar’s lawyer, Deng John Deng, told the court the defense wanted permission to meet their client, whom they referred to as the fifth accused, before he delivers his defense statement.
“We have an application to visit the fifth accused at his residence to prepare him for his defense statement. We also have a copy of a newspaper that we would like to give the fifth accused,” Deng told the court.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng directed the defense lawyers to collect the relevant application form from his office so the request could be processed.
The application came as the defense also complained that relatives of the accused had been prevented from attending recent court sessions.
Another defense lawyer, Kur Lual Kur, said several family members who came to observe proceedings on July 29 and again on Monday were turned away by National Security Service personnel despite arriving peacefully.
“Relatives of the accused have been denied entry to the court by National Security officers. Many of them were sent back during the July 29 session,” Kur said.
Judge Deng said court proceedings are open to the public and instructed the defense to identify the security personnel responsible for denying access.
“This is a public court and everyone is allowed to attend these sessions,” he said. “We will instruct the National Security Service to stop denying access to anybody. Anyone who wants to come to court is free to attend and listen to the proceedings.”
The court adjourned the trial until Aug. 5, when it is expected to continue hearing the defense case of Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, one of Machar’s co-defendants.
Machar and seven co-accused — Puot Kang Chuol, Mam Pal Dhuor, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek and Dominic Gatgok Riek — face charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property and crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors allege that SPLA-IO forces allied with the White Army killed 257 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers, including commander Gen. David Majur Dak, during an attack on the Nasir military garrison in March 2025. They also allege that military equipment worth about $58 million was destroyed or seized.
The defendants have denied the charges.
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