A judge hearing the case involving suspended First Vice President and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused on Friday cautioned journalists and media outlets against publishing detailed accounts of court proceedings, warning such reporting could undermine the administration of justice.
The warning followed media coverage of testimony by the first accused, Puot Kang Chol, who said he was humiliated in detention and accused senior government officials of instigating the Nasir incident.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng issued the caution during the 84th session of the trial at Freedom Hall while the second accused, Mam Pal Dhuor, was testifying.
Deng said journalists had a duty to inform the public but warned against publishing extensive details of testimonies, evidence and legal arguments.
“The media like recording and publishing what is being said in details. We advise you make a summary and don’t go into details. We are warning you to stop this,” he said.
He barred journalists, lawyers and members of the public from bringing mobile phones into the courtroom, saying the measure was necessary to prevent unauthorised recording and safeguard the integrity of the proceedings.
He also directed security personnel to screen all entrants and collect mobile phones at the courtroom entrance.
Mam, the second accused to testify on Friday, is among eight defendants facing charges including treason, crimes against humanity, murder, terrorism and destruction of property over the March 2025 attack on an SSPDF base in Nasir.
The other defendants are Dr. Riek Machar, Puot Kang Chuol, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek and Dominic Gatgok Riek.
Machar is under house arrest, while the remaining accused are being held by the National Security Service.
Prosecutors allege that Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) forces, allied with the White Army militia, killed 257 SSPDF soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth about $58 million during the attack.
The defendants have denied the charges.
and then