A lawyer defending suspended South Sudanese First Vice President Riek Machar on Tuesday denied social media reports that he and the lead defence counsel had gone missing in Juba after allegedly being arrested by the National Security Service.
Kur Lual Kur, a member of Machar’s defence team, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the reports that he and lead defense lawyer Geri Raimondo Legge were missing were false.
“What is being circulated on social media that we are missing is not true, so we would like to refute that,” Kur said.
Kur said, however, that the defence team had received threats and would present details to the special court when Machar’s trial resumes on Friday.
“Yes, there are threats, but we will present it before the court on Friday. During Friday’s session we will clarify and explain the challenges and risks facing us,” he said.
“We are fine and we have not gone missing,” he said.
The defence team raised concerns about alleged threats against its eight clients and members of the legal team during Monday’s proceedings.
Legge told the court that there was a “serious threat” to the defence team and the eight accused, particularly Machar, and called for the matter to be addressed urgently. He did not identify those allegedly responsible.
The court adjourned proceedings on Monday after one of the three judges, Stephen Simon, was unable to attend because he was unwell. The trial is due to resume on Friday.
Machar and seven co-defendants are being tried over violence in Nasir, Upper Nile state, in March 2025. They face charges including treason, murder, conspiracy, terrorism, destruction of public property and crimes against humanity.
Prosecutors allege that forces loyal to Machar, together with the White Army militia, killed 257 government soldiers during an attack on a military garrison in Nasir.
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