The chief investigator told the special court in Juba on Monday that suspended Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol purchased firearms and ammunition allegedly used by White Army militia to attack a military garrison in Nasir, Upper Nile State, killing hundreds of government soldiers.
Maj. Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani made the allegation during re-examination at the 19th session of the trial, which is hearing charges against eight high-profile defendants, including suspended First Vice President Riek Machar.
Machar, 73; 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 – are charged with treason, crimes against humanity, murder, terrorism, and destruction of property.
Prosecutors allege that forces loyal to Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO), together with the White Army militia, attacked a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) garrison in Nasir, resulting in the deaths of Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak and more than 200 soldiers.
Machar, a signatory to South Sudan’s 2018 peace agreement, was placed under house arrest on March 26, while the seven co-accused were detained by security forces later that month.
“The first accused, Puot Kang Chuol, transferred money to Hokdor Chuol to buy guns and ammunition used by the White Army to assault and seize the Nasir military garrison on March 3,” Wani told the court.
He said an individual identified as Chuol Gatnor photographed the weapons and sent the images via WhatsApp to the minister to confirm the purchase.
“Yes, as I said earlier, there was communication between the first accused and Hokdor Chuol regarding the purchase. Chuol Gatnor sent pictures of the guns and ammunition to the first accused through WhatsApp,” he said.
According to Wani, the assault on the Nasir garrison was led by SPLA-IO officers and resulted in the deaths of more than 275 SSPDF soldiers, including Maj. Gen. Majur.
“The first attack in Nasir was carried out by Col. Tor Gile Thoan on March 3, 2025, and a second assault, led by Kang Makana the following day, overran the garrison,” Wani testified.
The prosecution’s re-examination was conducted by Advocate Ajo Onyo Issa, a member of the prosecution team, at Freedom Hall in Juba.
Issa questioned why the trial was being held in Juba instead of Nasir or Malakal, where the incident occurred.
Wani said the case was being heard in the capital because it involved crimes against the state and the accused were arrested in Juba.
“The incident happened in Nasir, but the survivors, government officials, and intelligence reports about the attack were all brought to Juba,” he said. “The National Security Service authorized the case to be initiated in Juba, and the Central Equatoria legal administration instructed police to open the file here.”
The prosecution also filed an application seeking witness protection and the appointment of a court interpreter. The measures aim to ensure the safety, privacy, and security of witnesses in upcoming testimonies, citing potential risks of intimidation or threats.
Proposed protections include keeping witness identities confidential, providing security escorts, restricting public exposure, and allowing witnesses to testify from a closed room to prevent their faces or names from being revealed.
Machar’s defense lawyer, Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge, confirmed receiving the prosecution’s applications and said the defense would submit a written response in the next session.
Following the re-examination, the court said it would take time to prepare its own questions for the investigator, which will be addressed when the trial resumes on Wednesday.
The complainant, South Sudan’s National Security Service, is also scheduled to be heard on the same day.
Presiding Judge Dr. James Alala Deng adjourned the session until Wednesday to allow the defense to study the investigator’s findings before the next round of questioning.