Defense lawyers for South Sudan’s suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-accused told the special court on Friday that at least 10 vehicles and other valuable items disappeared from the residence of the first defendant, Puot Kang Chuol, during his arrest in March.
The allegations surfaced during the cross-examination of the lead investigator in the high-profile trial, where suspended petroleum minister Puot, suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, and six others face charges including murder, treason, and crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors say the charges stem from a March 2025 attack on a military base in the town of Nasir, Upper Nile State, which left more than 200 soldiers dead, including Maj. Gen. David Majur Dak.
The government alleges the assault was carried out by forces loyal to Machar’s Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) and a local militia known as the White Army.
During the court’s 14th session at Freedom Hall, lead defense counsel Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge questioned lead investigator Maj. Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani about the allegedly missing property.
“Are you aware that several items, including ten vehicles—five private and five government-owned—were seized from his house, and we do not know their whereabouts?” Legge asked.
Dr. Geri also confirmed to Radio Tamazuj after the court session that the vehicles had disappeared from the first defendant’s house after his arrest.
During the cross-examination, Legge further alleged that other items also went missing in Machar’s house, including Thuraya satellite phones, a digital medical watch, books, and documents.
He separately claimed that property belonging to co-defendant Mam Pal Dhuor, a businessman, was also taken when Dhuor was detained by National Security officers at Juba International Airport. The items allegedly included a gold chain, gold pieces, a bag, and $1,000 in cash.
In response, Maj. Gen. Wani told the court he was not aware of the ten vehicles or most of the other items allegedly seized from Puot’s home.
“I am not aware of the two Thuraya satellite phones or the digital medical watch. The only thing I know about are the documents that were seized. Whether those documents were taken in his presence or not, I am not aware,” Wani testified.
Regarding Dhuor’s property, Wani confirmed that the businessman’s recorded statement listed several items allegedly confiscated by security agents. These included two watches, an HP laptop, two rings, passports, a bag, an iPhone 16, a Samsung Pro-16, a Nokia phone, $1,158, 23,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP), and a necklace. Wani said he did not know the current whereabouts of those belongings.
The court session also featured several procedural disputes.
Defense lawyer Deng John Deng challenged the trial’s venue, arguing that the case should be heard in Upper Nile State, where the alleged offenses occurred.
Maj. Gen. Wani countered that, as a criminal case against the state, the National Security Service (NSS) had the authority to open proceedings in the capital, Juba.
The three-judge panel, presided over by Judge James Alala, denied a defense motion requesting access to the prosecution’s case files to prepare for further cross-examination.
The court also dismissed a defense filing due to what it described as a “wrong title,” noting that the official case name is The Republic of South Sudan v. Puot Kang Chuol et al., not The Republic of South Sudan v. Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The defense was granted two days to correct the title and resubmit its documents.
Machar, 73, a key figure in South Sudan’s years of civil conflict, and his co-defendants face charges of treason, crimes against humanity, mass murder, terrorism, and destruction of property.
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).
The judge adjourned the hearing until Monday, October 27, when the defense will continue its cross-examination of Maj. Gen. Wani.
NOTICE OF CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the location from which 10 vehicles disappeared. The vehicles were taken from the residence of suspended Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol, not from the residence of First Vice President Riek Machar.