Deputy Chief of Defense Forces, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, on Wednesday told the special court that the Jamus Ground military detention facility was an “illegal prison” established to torture soldiers, during his defense.
Jamus Ground is an underground detention facility that has been reported to be operated by the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) Military Intelligence Directorate.
Lam, who is also the acting chief of staff of the SPLA-IO, made the remarks while responding to questions from the bench during the 104th session of the trial at Freedom Hall in Juba.
Justice Stephen Simon asked Lam which force controlled the facility and whether it belonged to the SPLA-IO or the SSPDF.
Lam said the detention facility is being operated by the SSPDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate and argued that it falls outside the legal framework governing military detention.
“It belongs to Military Intelligence (MI). The MI is a unit within the army and falls under the operations department of the SSPDF,” Lam told the court.
“In the military, there is no way you can create a military prison. That prison was intended to torture soldiers. Those in charge of military prisons are the military police,” he added.
The prosecution did not immediately respond to the allegations during the hearing.
Justice Simon further asked Lam whether, in his capacity as deputy chief of defense forces, he had ever visited the facility to inspect the treatment of detainees.
Lam replied that he had been unaware of the prison’s existence before his own arrest.
“Before I was arrested, I didn’t know that prison. I only knew of the military police prison for the army. At one time, we formed a committee to screen about 400 prisoners detained at the military police prison,” he said.
The presiding judge, Justice Alala, adjourned proceedings until Friday, Aug. 7, when the court is expected to hear Machar’s defense.
The adjournment followed complaints by defense lawyers that security officials had prevented them from meeting Machar at his residence in Juba’s Amarat neighborhood despite a court order authorizing the visit.
During Wednesday’s session, the judge warned security officials against obstructing access to Machar and instructed that his lawyers be allowed to meet him before the next hearing.
Machar remains under house arrest, while the other defendants are being held at National Security Service detention facilities in Juba.
The seven co-defendants are Puot Kang Chuol, Mam Pal Dhuor, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek and Dominic Gatgok Riek.
They are charged with murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property and crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors allege that SPLA-IO forces allied with the White Army killed 257 SSPDF soldiers, including Gen. David Majur Dak, during an attack on the Nasir military garrison in March 2025. They further allege that military equipment worth approximately $58 million was destroyed or seized.
All of the defendants have denied the charges.
and then