Man beaten to death during customary court case in Rumbek East

Authorities in Lakes State are investigating the death of a man who was allegedly beaten during a customary court hearing over the impregnation and elopement of a girl.

The incident happened on Tuesday at Thonaduel, the headquarters of Rumbek East County.

The man, who was accused of impregnating the girl, was allegedly beaten on the head by the girl’s maternal uncle outside the customary court, county commissioner Mapuor Malek Malual said.

The victim died while being taken to hospital in Rumbek, the commissioner said.

“The victim was beaten on the head and when people tried to carry him to hospital, he died on the way before reaching the state hospital in Rumbek,” Malual told Radio Tamazuj.

He said authorities were still investigating the circumstances of the incident and were searching for the attacker, who remains at large.

The commissioner said police had detained three relatives of the attacker to protect them from possible retaliation by the deceased man’s family.

The case arose after the girl’s family took the matter to the customary court following her alleged impregnation and elopement in Mabor Duong village, Malual said.

Civil society activist Daniel Laat Kon condemned the killing and called on the state government to investigate and hold those responsible to account.

“It is very unfortunate that a suspect was beaten in the customary court and died immediately,” Kon said.

He urged customary courts to ensure the safety of people appearing before them, including by deploying police officers to prevent violence.

“You cannot just beat someone to death because he has eloped with your daughter,” he said, adding that disputes involving relationships and elopement should be resolved through negotiation and dialogue.

Kon also appealed to the deceased man’s family to allow the authorities to investigate the case rather than retaliate.

Traditional authorities in South Sudan often handle disputes involving marriage, elopement and family relations, but serious allegations of violence can also be subject to state criminal law.