David Garang Goc, the chairperson for the coalition group Jonglei Civil Society Network, was released on Saturday after being in Police custody for two days in Bor town. 

The civil society activist was arrested on Thursday morning after he accused the state government of allegedly embezzling food donations meant for the flood victims in the state. 

The state police commissioner, Joseph Mayen Akoon, told Radio Tamazuj that the activist was released pending a court trial Monday. 

“We released activist Garang Goc as required by the law.  He has been charged with spreading false information about the government. And on Monday, he will be tried at the court,” he said. 

The released activist, David Garang Goc, confirmed that he was bailed out Saturday afternoon and that he was ready to stand trial on Monday. 

“I am ready to appear before the court because I have been accused of defaming the Bor Municipality and the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission. I was arbitrarily arrested and I spent all those days in a latrine,” he said. 

For his part, Bol Deng Bol, the Executive Director of the civil society organization Intrepid-South Sudan, welcomed Garang’s release, saying his arrest was an attack on the freedom of expression. 

“This chance of going to court is very important. It points the way for us to address our common issues in a non-violent way. Because it is not all the time that we are threatened to succumb to their pressure,” he stressed.