A man allegedly committed suicide in prison while serving a 10-year jail term for rape in Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State, police said.
The state police commissioner, Chol Atem Jongeth, told Radio Tamazuj Thursday that the deceased whose name is withheld took his own life on Tuesday morning after spending two years at the Malakal prison.
“The deceased was convicted for rape in 2020 by the High Court in Malakal. He was supposed to spend 10 years behind bars but unfortunately, he took his own life using the rope of his pair of shorts,” he said.
The state police commissioner said the reason for the suicide is not known because the deceased left no note.
Chagai Lual, the public health director at the Malakal Municipality, confirmed the death but said medical and police investigations are still ongoing.
According to the World Health Organization, suicide is one of the leading causes of death claiming over 700, 000 lives globally every year, with low-and-middle-income countries accounting for 77 percent of the total mortality.