The final verdict by the high court in the case against Abraham Chol Maketh, a self-proclaimed prophet, is due on Friday this week, a defense lawyer said.

During a court hearing in Juba on Tuesday, the defense team presented three witnesses before the court to testify that Abraham Chol, a Juba-based leader of Cush International Ministries, is innocent of all the charges levelled against him.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj after the court session, Johnson Mayik, a member of the defense team, said they are hopeful that the charges against their client will be dropped by the court on Friday.

 “The defense team has given the verdict what it can have in the case and has given all the necessary evidence for the client, and we expect our client to be acquitted when the court makes its decision,” Mayiik said. 

Abraham Chol was arrested in July 2021. Days before, the cleric had told his congregation during a Sunday service that both President Salva Kiir and his first deputy Riek Machar would be unseated from office on July 9th, the independence anniversary, to make way for new leadership.

Last week, the court in Juba dropped several charges against Abraham Chol but went on to indict him on charges of insulting the president and political interference.