The hearing of the case of the self-styled prophet Abraham Chol Maketh of Cush International Church was from Monday postponed to Friday due to the absence of one of the  High Court judges on the penal.

Chol was arrested in July last year after uttering statements to the effect that President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar would be kicked out of office by or on Independence Day 9 July 2021.

The court was on Monday expected to examine the investigator who presented his case last week. 

Speaking to journalists on Monday at the High Court premises, Deng John Deng, one of Chol’s defense lawyers said the third hearing could not proceed because one of the judges lost a close relative.

“The session of today (Monday) was set for the examination of the investigator as he presented the case last week but the session was adjourned for 14 October because a member of the panel of judges lost his brother,” he explained. “We will resume the case on 14 October for the continuation of the examination of the investigator.”

Last week, the general prosecutor, Majur Deng Alor, indicted Chol on accusations of forming a group and instigating a conspiracy to topple the government.

Chol was indicted under sections 66, 74, 7, 76, 201, and 202 of the Penal Code Act 2008.

The sections deal with subverting a constitutional government, causing disaffection among the police or defense forces, publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to Southern Sudan, and undermining the authority of and or insulting the president.