Three people accused of forging President Salva Kiir’s signature have been released after more than four months in detention by South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS), relatives said.
The three — former lawmakers Kom Kom Geng and Ayii Ayii Akol, and former adviser to First Lady Mary Ayen Mayardit, Achan Agoth Akiec — were released on Friday, Oct. 2, their relatives said.
They were arrested in May and accused by the NSS of forging Kiir’s signature, unlawfully using presidential symbols of authority, smuggling documents and interfering with an investigation into alleged financial crimes involving several detainees.
The NSS said in May that the case was linked to an investigation involving 16 detainees, including former Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, who is being held over alleged financial and related crimes.
On May 15, parliament lifted the immunity of Geng and Ayii, who were lawmakers at the time, following a request from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
A ministry letter dated May 13 said the two were facing criminal charges under case number 1891/2026, citing provisions of the Penal Code Act 2008 relating to forgery and other offences.
A separate letter from Kiir dated May 10 described the alleged conduct as a threat to state security and the integrity of presidential authority.
NSS spokesman David John Kumuri identified the three suspects at a press briefing in Juba as Geng, Ayii and Achan.
Geng chaired parliament’s security and public order committee, while Ayii is the brother of former Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol. Achan, a Juba-based businesswoman, previously served as a senior and special adviser in the office of the first lady.
Kiir dissolved the transitional government and parliament on Sept. 22, ahead of elections scheduled for Dec. 22.
Deng Diany Achuil, who represented the three, welcomed their release and called for other detainees to be freed as the country prepares for the elections.
“Our members of parliament were representing us. They were detained for months and released without us knowing what crime had been committed,” Diany said. “We hope to see other detained members released as well, so that true unity can be demonstrated to the people of South Sudan.”
Relatives told Radio Tamazuj that the three were in good health after their release and would undergo routine medical checkups.
Veteran politician Aldo Ajou Akuei said the handling of people detained under the oversight of the NSS could involve administrative procedures before a case is referred to police for prosecution.
Akuei said the release of detainees following an internal investigation could indicate that the matter had been concluded administratively and had not been referred to police for prosecution.
NSS Spokesman David John Kumuri could not immeidately be reached for comment.
The NSS has broad powers of arrest and detention under South Sudan’s security laws. Human Rights Watch has previously documented prolonged NSS detention without judicial review and raised concerns about due process for detainees.
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