The General Court Martial for the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) on Tuesday preferred murder and theft charges on Private Yak Garang Yak who is suspected to have killed three Syrian nationals last month in Warrap State.
Maj. Gen. Majok Michael Chan, the President of General Court Martial, said Garang was charged with murder under section 206 of the South Sudan Penal Code 2008 for murdering the Syrian construction workers and a South Sudanese national who witnessed the incident on January 7th, 2023.
He was also charged with disobedience of lawful orders under section 67 of the SPLA Act 2009, and mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt under section 327 of the South Sudan Penal Code 2008.
“Today, the court has found you (Garang) guilty and charged you under the following articles, section 83 under SPLA Act 2009 read together with section 206 under South Sudan Penal Code 2008 which is murder,” Chan said while reading out the charges in Juba.
In addition, Garang was also found guilty of commandeering SSPDF vehicles and disobedience of orders from his superiors.
Chan asked the families of the deceased workers to come up with a final suggestion on whether to forgive the accused or he be sentenced by firing squad in the next session.
The defense team representing Garang requested the court for the third time to take the accused for medical examinations, a request that was rejected by the court arguing that the accused is a sound-minded person.
The deceased Syrian nationals and a 15-year-old South Sudanese were killed in Akon village of Gogrial West in Warrap State.
The Syrians were working for CKM Construction Company which was constructing President Salva Kiir’s house in Akon village.
