Authorities in Jonglei State have temporarily released 20 inmates from jail in Twic East County as part of efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Alfred Manyang Agok, the state prison director, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the inmates were on minor offences awaiting trial.
“We bailed out 20 inmates from the facility in Twic East County. This will help control coronavirus spread and cut our expenses. Those released were arrested on minor issues like theft,” he said.
The senior prison official revealed that efforts are also underway to ensure more prisoners from Duk County are released.
Last month, 86 inmates were temporarily released from the main prison in the state capital, Bor.
South Sudan on Thursday recorded its first death from coronavirus as cases of infections from the new pandemic in the country hit 231.