South Sudan’s suspended petroleum minister provided $30,000 to the White Army militia to finance the deadly attack on the military garrison in Nasir that killed hundreds of SSPDF soldiers, a lead investigator testified in the special court Friday.
Maj. Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani, the police commissioner of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, presented the allegations against Puot Kang Chuol, who is the first accused, during the 11th session of the high-profile trial.
Puot Kang, 40, is one of eight defendants, including suspended First Vice President Riek Machar, 73, facing charges of treason, crimes against humanity, mass murder, terrorism, and destruction of property.
The case stems from a March 2025 assault on a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) base in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
Wani, under cross-examination by the prosecution, stated that Puot Kang sent the money by plane to fund the “logistics and mobilization” of the White Army for the attack.
“The money was sent twice; the first payment was a smaller amount meant for a ritual. The second payment was about $30,000,” Wani told the court. He said the $30,000 was distributed among 15 payams, with each receiving $2,000.
He testified that a chief in one payam refused the money, stating he would not accept it to mobilize youths to attack the army garrison.
Wani said the former Nasir County commissioner, James Gatluak Lew, a member of Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), collected the rejected $2,000.
The chief who refused “didn’t want to bear the consequences of what was going to happen,” Wani said. “He was asked by the Nasir commissioner to hand over the ribbon of chieftaincy, and he did so.”
Wani further alleged that Puot Kang was in direct communication with the attackers. “He was receiving intelligence reports on the Nasir garrison attack and a list of those who were killed from the White Army through WhatsApp,” the investigator said.
The investigator further said Puot Kang issued false statements on UN-owned Radio Miraya about the SSPDF’s troop movements in the area.
He claimed Puot Kang also sent money to an SPLM-IO commander, Brig. Gen. Hokdor Chuol, to purchase arms and ammunition used in the assault, and was receiving “detailed updates on those who were wounded and battle timing.”
According to a military administrative report cited by Wani, 267 soldiers were killed in the Nasir attack, including Gen. James Majur Dak.
The prosecution stated the first attack on the garrison on March 3, 2025, was carried out by White Army commander Col. Tor Gile Thoan, while the second attack on March 4 was commanded by a combination of the White Army and SPLA-IO soldiers.
The prosecution also requested the special court to try 10 other individuals who remain at large. They were identified as Lt. Gen. Peter Thok Chuol, Maj. Gen. Dhiling Keak, Lt. Gen. Peter Ruot, Lt. Gen. Yiey Dak and Maj. Gen. William Deng Buom.
Others are White Army commander Kang Makana, Maj. Gen. Koang Miom, Maj. Gen. Koang Gatluak Terjath, Gatwech Liem, Biel Wieu, James Gatluak Lew, Brig. Gen. Hokdor Chuol and Pal Mai Deng.
Machar’s lead defense lawyer, Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge, objected to the evidence presented by Wani, arguing it violated Article 22 of South Sudan’s constitution and several sections of the 2008 Criminal Procedure Act, which protect the privacy of every person and their correspondence, communications, and property.
The defense team raised several objections during the hearing, arguing that some of the prosecution’s questions were leading.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the session until Monday, Oct. 20, to continue with the presentation of evidence on the roles of the remaining seven accused.
“For the defense, come to me to get permission for what we had discussed. Now the session is adjourned until next Monday at the same time,” Deng said.
The other defendants on trial are 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.
The government alleges the March 2025 assault was carried out by forces loyal to Machar’s SPLM-IO and the allied White Army militia. The trial began on Sept. 22.