The lead defense lawyer for South Sudan’s suspended first vice president, Riek Machar, publicly denied rumors on Thursday morning that he had been kidnapped, calling the social media reports “fake” and an attempt to mislead the public.
Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge spoke to Radio Tamazuj after online messages circulated claiming he had been abducted by unknown individuals.
“I am senior counsel Dr. Geri, currently present at Mudiriya courts in Juba. What is going on on social media is fake and not true,” Legge said.
“All the security is very cooperative with us. These are people giving us security by protecting us, and they are happy with me because I’m defending our country, South Sudan.”
Machar, a key figure in a 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year civil war, was suspended from his role as first vice president and placed under house arrest in March. He and seven co-accused are now on trial in a special tribunal in Juba, facing charges that include treason, crimes against humanity, and murder.
The charges are linked to a March attack on a military base in Nasir, Upper Nile state. The government alleges the assault, which killed Gen. David Majur Dak and more than 250 soldiers, was carried out by the White Army militia under Machar’s direction.
Legge, a former Court of Appeal judge and a current law professor at the University of Juba, leads a defense team that includes several prominent lawyers.
The trial is being heard by a three-judge panel of Supreme Court justices, led by Justice James Alala Deng. Proceedings are taking place at Juba’s Freedom Hall. The case began on Sept. 22.
Alongside Machar, 73, the other 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. They face additional charges of mass murder, terrorism and destruction of property.