Lawyers representing suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar told the court on Wednesday that security officials prevented them from meeting their client despite obtaining judicial approval to consult him ahead of his defense testimony.
During the 104th session of the trial at Freedom Hall in Juba, defense lawyer Kur Lual Kur said the court had authorized the legal team on Aug. 3 to visit Machar at his residence to prepare his defense statement.
Kur said the lawyers were denied access when they attempted to meet Machar on Tuesday.
“We were denied access to meet the fifth accused on Aug. 4 after obtaining approval from the court due to administrative delays by the National Security Service,” Kur told the court.
He argued that the restriction had undermined the defense’s ability to prepare Machar for his testimony.
Lead prosecutor Ajo Ony’Ohisa acknowledged that the court had approved the visit and said the prosecution had not objected. However, he said the meeting could not proceed because approval from the Director General of the National Security Service had not been obtained in time.
“The defense counsel called Mr. Yai [security officer] at about 2:14 p.m. and informed him they had the court’s approval and wanted to meet the fifth accused,” Ony’Ohisa said.
“He informed the defense that he had to notify his superior, the Director General of the National Security Service, given the status of the fifth accused. Because it was already late in the day, the information could not reach the superior in time and the meeting could not take place,” he added.
Ony’Ohisa also objected to the inclusion of advocate Chout Alier in the proposed visit, saying Alier was not officially listed as a member of Machar’s defense team.
“The defense team that was to visit the fifth accused had a new face with them, Advocate Chout Alier. He is not on record as one of the defense lawyers, and we are not aware that the court has approved him. We consider this a serious security risk that the court should take note of,” he said.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng ordered that Machar’s lawyers be allowed to meet him at his residence at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, provided those attending were lawyers whose names appeared on the court’s approved list.
“You are to meet with the fifth accused at his residence at 9 a.m. tomorrow. The lawyers meeting the fifth accused should be those whose names appear on our list,” Deng said.
The judge warned security agencies against obstructing or delaying access to Machar, saying such actions waste the court’s time and hinder the timely administration of justice.
The court adjourned until Friday, Aug. 7, when it is scheduled to hear Machar’s defense statement.
Machar is being tried alongside seven co-defendants: Puot Kang Chuol, Mam Pal Dhuor, Gatwech Lam Puohc, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek and Dominic Gatgok Riek.
They face charges including 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 South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers, including commander Gen. David Majur Dak, during an attack on the Nasir military garrison in March 2025. They also allege that military equipment worth about $58 million was destroyed or seized.
All of the defendants have denied the charges.
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