Rumbek authorities say more than 30 suspects arrested in connection to the shooting of the Catholic Bishop-elect of the Rumbek Diocese, Fr. Christian Carlassare last month have been released on bail.

Stephen Mathiang Deng Monydit, the state information minister and head of the investigation committee told Radio Tamazuj that only four suspects have remained and are kept in Rumbek Central Prison.

"About 34 of them are released on bail pending a final investigation because the two prime suspects; one is arrested in Juba and the other is still at large. So, they are released on bail pending an investigation for the final process," he said.

"As per now, there are four potential suspects imprisoned in Rumbek," he added.

Mathiang said the police in Juba will transport the suspect in Juba to Rumbek to face trial.

"This is not an intention of the people of this state. It is only a small group who might be having a plan and it is condemned as people and government of Lakes State," Mathiang added.

He appealed to the people in Rumbek to cooperate with authorities to apprehend the culprits.

Lakes State police spokesperson Elijah Mabor Makuac revealed that some suspects remain at large due to a lack of cooperation from the communities.

"There is also a challenge in the investigation because there is a lack of cooperation with the community. Everywhere in the world without cooperation with the local community then the authorities cannot do much. Without cooperation you cannot find out the criminal within the community," he explained. 

He said, all the security organs are doubling up their efforts to makes sure that all perpetrators are brought to book and investigation is completed. 

On April 25, 2021, armed men attacked the Bishop-elect's residence in Rumbek at midnight and shot both his legs. Fr. Christian Carlassare has since been receiving treatment at a hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.