South Sudan court slaps $87500 on woman for defamation
By Staff Writer
A South Sudanese woman, Mama Amira Ali has been sentenced to 6 months in prison and ordered to pay 35 million South Sudanese Pounds ($87,000) for compensation of damages done.
Mama Amira Ali was found guilty of defamation of Nyenagwek Koul Mareng, the former Minister for Information Telecommunication in Warrap State.
Her crime was using social media to insult the family of the politician.
The high court in Juba also charged her 100,000 South Sudanese Pound in fines.
Advocate Monyluak Aguer confirmed the sentenced but said Mama Amira will not be taken to prison because of poor health.
The affected family however was not comfortable with the ruling.
“Defamation is the criminal case,” Dr Majak Makoor, the husband of Nyenagwek Koul told reporters.
“The court should have completed the ruling but instead it has charged her without going to prison,” he said.
The court also instructed the Directorate of Immigration, Nationality and Passport to ensure Mama Amira does not leave the country over the period.
