Former Unity State Governor Maj. Gen. Riek Bim Top on Friday denied wrongdoing in a theft case referenced in documents circulating on social media, saying a disputed truck was returned to its owner once authorities established its rightful ownership.
Top, who is also a senior officer in the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces, said the allegations had been misrepresented online and wrongly linked to wider political tensions in Unity State.
“It was yesterday [Wednesday] that social media platforms and different media outlets were busy circulating a document in my name as an accused under the crime of theft,” Top said in a statement seen by Radio Tamazuj.
According to Top, the dispute dates back to early 2025 when a Sino truck was brought from Sudan into Unity State while he was serving as governor. He said the former Rubkona County executive director, Peter Lok Tang, brought the vehicle to his residence without his knowledge, allegedly intending to present it as a personal gift.
Top said he raised concerns about how the truck had been imported into the state and was told customs clearance was still being processed. He added that the vehicle was later moved to Juba for maintenance.
While in Juba, a man identified as James Dak Chap, whom Top described as an employee of an oil company, reported to state authorities that the vehicle had been taken from him by force, according to Top’s statement.
Top said he subsequently instructed state officials in Juba to hand over the vehicle to the claimant after the ownership dispute emerged.
“The delivery was witnessed by the CID police officer in Central Equatoria State, and evidence of the handover is available,” he said.
He also questioned why legal documents relating to the case were circulated publicly before he had been formally notified by police or military authorities.
Top alleged that unnamed individuals in Unity State were attempting to use legal proceedings to push him out of Juba and target former officials of his administration through land confiscations and demolition of houses.
Kog Koang, a close aide to former Unity State Governor Riek Bim, told Radio Tamazuj that the matter had been misrepresented in public discourse and should not be linked to other unrelated incidents in Unity State.
Koang also dismissed suggestions that the former governor was planning to leave Juba over the controversy.
“Some people want the governor to escape, but he will not. He will not go beyond one kilometre from this city,” he said.
He further said the case was unrelated to the Abiemnhom violence, adding that it was strictly a vehicle ownership dispute.
“This case is not related to the violence that happened in Abiemnhom in March. It is only about a car, and the truck was returned to its owner. We do not know what the problem is with the person claiming ownership,” he said.
This follows a request by the Legal Administration and Public Prosecution Authority in Central Equatoria for military authorities to lift Top’s immunity to allow investigation into the case.
In a May 12 letter addressed to the Director of Military Justice at SSPDF headquarters in Bilpam, Senior Public Prosecution Attorney Latlatjor Kueth Jal requested that Top be transferred under escort to Northern Police Station in Juba.
The request relates to Criminal Case No. 2598/2025 under Sections 48 and 293 of the South Sudan Penal Code Act, 2008, covering acts committed in furtherance of a common intention and theft.
Section 48 provides that individuals acting with a common intention in committing an offence may be held jointly liable, while Section 293 defines theft as the dishonest taking of property without consent and with intent to permanently deprive the owner.
Following the prosecution request, Assistant Chief of Defence Forces for Administration, Personnel and Finance Lt. Gen. Kuol Deng-Abot Kuol also wrote to the Chief of Defence Forces requesting Top’s release for civilian investigation.
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