Suspended Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol on Friday denied allegations that he transferred $30,000 to support violence in Nasir County, describing the accusations as politically motivated and intended to damage his reputation.
Lead investigator Maj. Gen. Basilio Thomas Wani previously told the court that Kang sent $30,000 to mobilize youth across 15 payams, in addition to $1,500 allegedly intended for ritual purposes.
Investigators further alleged that Kang coordinated several cross-border money transfers, including 123,000 Kenyan shillings sent via M-Pesa to Gatwech Liem, a suspect still at large, and 625,000 Ethiopian birr to SPLA-IO officer Hokdor Chuol.
Prosecutors accuse Kang of acting as a financier and liaison between individuals in Juba and commanders of the White Army in Nasir and Ulang counties.
Kang, the first accused in the ongoing trial, denied financing the White Army or involvement in the March 3-4, 2025 attack on a military garrison in Nasir.
“I didn’t send $30,000 to Nasir. Instead, I was helping to diffuse the situation by talking to people not to fight,” Kang told the special court.
He accused prosecution witnesses numbered 7, 8, 9 and 10 of fabricating testimony during examination-in-chief, saying allegations that he financed the attack were politically motivated.
“The witnesses numbered 8, 9 and 10 did not have any contact with me directly, and we do not even know each other,” he said.
Kang said prosecutors had failed to provide evidence showing that money was sent to Nasir.
“In particular, the record is devoid of any evidence establishing the identity or registration details of any aircraft allegedly used to transport the funds from Juba to Nasir, or ownership of such aircraft,” he said.
“The prosecution and its witnesses have failed to present any credible or verified evidence demonstrating how such funds were transmitted, the dates of the alleged transfers, or the identity of any aircraft or company involved in transporting the money,” he added.
Kang also alleged that prosecution witnesses were brought from Nasir to Juba as what he called “guns for hire” and claimed they were affiliated with the ruling SPLM party.
Kang is one of eight defendants, including First Vice President Riek Machar, 73, facing charges of treason, crimes against humanity, murder, terrorism and destruction of property over the March 2025 assault on a South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) base in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
Prosecutors allege that 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.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the hearing until May 18, 2026, for judges to continue questioning Kang.
Kang faces charges including murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason and crimes against humanity.
Co-defendants include Riek Machar, Mam Pal Dhuor, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek and Dominic Gatgok Riek.
Machar remains under house arrest, while the co-accused are being held by the National Security Service.
and then