South Sudan’s Deputy Chief of Defense Forces and fourth accused in the trial involving suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny told the Special Court on Monday that he was subjected to torture while in detention.
Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, 54, said he was shackled with chains and held under harsh conditions at the Jamus Ground Prison, which is run by the SSPDF’s Department of Military Intelligence, following his arrest on 4 March 2025.
Testifying during the 98th court session on Monday at Freedom Hall in Juba, he added that his legs were shackled with a three-kilogram chain and padlocked and that he was held in an underground prison cell for seven months. He described the treatment as inhumane and degrading.
“The following morning, I was taken to an underground prison; it is full of physical and mental torture gadgets,” he reminisced. “My legs were chained up with 3 kilos of weight and locked with padlocks,” Gen. Duop narrated. “On 11 April 2025, three officials who were bodyguards of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar were transferred from Tiger Prison to Military Intelligence Maximum Prison to join me. They are Brig. Gen. Mark Didi Dhieu, Brig. Gen. Par Dang and Major Hoth Chok.”
The senior army officer said he endured physical and psychological torture during his detention, claiming the conditions violated his rights. He said he was forced to sleep on the floor and was denied adequate food and medical care despite suffering from hypertension.
Gen. Duop added that soldiers confiscated two vehicles, two PKM machine guns, 10 AK-47 rifles, and two pistols when he was taken into custody.
Duop, who doubles as SPLA-IO Acting Chief of Staff, said the items were taken by military command during the operation that led to his arrest following the outbreak of violence in Nasir County in March 2025.
“Regarding my belongings taken during my arrest, they are two official military cars, a V-6 Toyota Land Cruiser and a Land Cruiser pickup, two Samsung mobile phones presented before the court as exhibits, 2 PKM machine guns, 10 Ak-47s with their basic loads,” he told the court. “Additionally, two pistols, one black watch, one gold finger ring, one command stick, one pair of military insignia, one headgear and two small bags for keeping small documents were taken.”
The general said some of his belongings were confiscated by the General Administration at Bilpam SSPDF Headquarters, while the remaining items were seized by the Military Intelligence Operations Directorate of the Ground Forces.
Presiding Judge Alala adjourned the case until Monday, 22 July, when the court is expected to continue examining the fourth accused, Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, the SPLA-IO Acting Chief of Staff.
Dr. Machar is under house arrest, while the other defendants are being held at National Security Service detention facilities in Juba.
The seven co-accused are Puot Kang Chuol, 40; Mam Pal Dhuor, 37; Gatwech Lam Puohc, 67; Lt Gen Gabriel Duop Lam, 53; Camilo Gatmai Kel, 47; Mading Yak Riek, 45; and Dominic Gatgok Riek, 27.
They 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 US dollars was destroyed or seized.
The defendants deny the charges.
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