A high court in Yambio, the capital of Western Equatoria State, on Wednesday sentenced three police officers to six years in prison after convicting them of murder, a ruling that has drawn widespread attention in the state.
The court found officers Hakim Harun, John David and Elias Taban guilty under Section 4.8/210 of the South Sudan Penal Code, according to court documents obtained by Radio Tamazuj.
The case stems from the death of a woman who was beaten while in police custody in Ibba County on January 14, 2025.
Chief Judge Angelo Daniel Yor delivered the verdict in the case, which was registered under file number 55-2025 R.I.R. No. 17 and investigated at Police Station 188A.
In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered the three officers to jointly pay 15 million South Sudanese pounds (SSP) in compensation to the victim’s family and an additional 3.4 million SSP to cover legal costs.
Court officials said the ruling was meant to deliver justice to the victim’s family and deter misconduct by law enforcement.
Wilson Tetela, commissioner of Ibba County, welcomed the decision, saying the public had been awaiting accountability.
“People were eager to see these officers convicted to ensure fairness,” Tetela told Radio Tamazuj. “This judgment sends a message that such acts must not happen again and that no one is above the law—not even me as commissioner.”
Marona Sako, acting paramount chief of Madebe Payam in Ibba County, said the community remained calm following the verdict.
“There have been no complaints from civilians. The case was handled properly, which is why people are at peace,” Sako said. He urged residents to respect the law and avoid retaliation.