A South African digital forensic expert tasked with analyzing evidence related to the March 2025 incident in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, has been accused of using outdated photographs to support claims about the events.
Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi, a prosecutor’s witness, previously presented a series of images, videos, and audio recordings linking suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused to deadly attacks on the army garrison in Nasir last year.
During the 64th session of the trial held at Freedom Hall in Juba, Dr. Geri Raymond Legge, lead defense lawyer for the eight accused, questioned Rafadi about whether he was aware that some of the photos in the individual report for the second accused, Mam Pal Dhuor, were taken in 2021 and 2022.
“Yes, I agree that photos from page 39 up to page 43 I labeled as additional findings from the photo gallery. What drew my attention to these photos, such as page 39 of the gallery of Mr. Mam Pal, is that they show youths holding rifles in the bush,” Rafadi said.
Geri asked Rafadi whether it would be accurate to state that any connection between those images and the alleged criminal activity relied on his own interpretation.
Rafadi responded that he had used the keywords “youth” and “gun” to extract information from Mam Pal’s phone, which showed images of young individuals with firearms in the bush.
“Those are my additional findings extracted from Mr. Mam’s phone, and I have placed it on the record many times that whatever evidence was extracted from the phone, irrespective of the so-called 30 March 2025 Nasir incident, all evidence presented in court is based on keywords, irrespective of the year,” he said.
Geri also questioned Rafadi on the basis for linking the transfer of 625,000 Ethiopian birr to Gen. Hokdor Chuol to the second accused, Mam Pal.
Rafadi said: “An extracted message from Mr. Puot Kang Chuol sent to Gen. Hokdor Chuol mentioned the keyword ‘Nasir’ and, in the same message, referenced ‘birr,’ the Ethiopian currency. The message also mentioned Mam Pal. On 23 February 2025, the extracted message showed that Gen. Hokdor Chuol sent Mr. Mam Pal photos of bullets in full plastic, which can be seen on Mr. Mam Pal’s phone.”
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the session to Wednesday, 8 April 2026, to continue the cross-examination of the expert.
Machar, 73, and seven co-defendants face charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity. Machar is under house arrest, while the others are held at National Security Service facilities in Juba.
The seven co-defendants are Puot Kang Chuol, 40; Mam Pal Dhuor, 37; Gatwech Lam Puoch, 66; Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, 53; Camilo Gatmai Kel, 47; Mading Yak Riek, 45; and Dominic Gatgok Riek, 27.
Prosecutors allege that forces linked to the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition, allied with the White Army militia, killed 257 soldiers from the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth about $58 million during an attack on the Nasir garrison in March 2025.