The High Court of South Sudan on Monday heard prosecution evidence from Chief Investigator Maj. Gen Basilio Thomas Wani in the case against the chief administrator, chief executive director and other administrative officials in the Office of the President.
The prosecution have accused the officials of forging documents in order to secure illegal transfers of millions of dollars from the presidency for their personal gain.
Maj Gen Thomas yesterday presented 14 items of prosecution evidence including properties allegedly found in the possession of some of the accused.
The chief investigator presented to the court eight different stamps, 23 computers and 17 vehicles (hardtops & V8) among other documents seized from the house of Yel Loul in Gurei, and from administrator John Agoth’s Click Company in Juba.
Defense lawyers are objecting to the evidence. “We rejected all the documents presented by the investigator, our position is still remain clear that all the items were got illegally without proper legal procedure. Therefore, we object all the evidence,” said one defense attorney.
The defense lawyer further said some of the documents presented by the investigator bear no signature of the accused. He says they want the court to know how evidence was obtained from banks, whether it was done legally.
John Agoth, a security officer and administrator, and other officials at the office of the president were last year but have only recently been brought to trial. They are accused of malpractices, forgery and theft amounting to 14 million USD dollars and 30,994,832 SSP from the Office of the President.
The four hours sitting yesterday was adjourned by the high court judge to 3 March after the chief investigator requested to rest as he was very tried and could not continue with his presentation.