Former Magwi County commissioner David Otto Remson insisted on his innocence as he and a co-accused returned home on Friday for the first time since their detention in Juba in December last year.
The two, who are facing murder charges, were released on bail.
Otto was arrested following the earlier arrest of Oringa Daniel for the suspected murder of two businessmen in Agoro Payam of Magwi County
Since then, the two have been in the Juba main prison without court trial, as the complainant has been negotiating with Acholi community for their release.
According to Otto, the complainant from the Acholi community, had agreed to USD55,000 compensation instead of a court trial. Already, USD47,000 has been paid, with the balance to be cleared before June 18, according to the court order
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj shortly after arrival at the Torit airstrip, Otto insisted on his innocence, despite accepting to pay the huge amount.
Am very happy that today am speaking in my area. I was taken to Juba on December 14 last year on the allegation of the death of two people by members of my community when they came to buy bamboo in Agoro Payam, he said. “I am innocent and I want to make it very clear to the people of Eastern Equatoria State that I did not kill anybody. I was just taken in because I am a leader and was a commissioner by then.”
When asked whether he was proven guilty by the court, Otto said he was not tried by any court, but had been confined in one place since last December
“First of all, when you have an allegation against a person, you have to prove to the court, but all these months, the complainant said he wanted to negotiate with the community of which I am a leader, a political figure of Eastern Equatoria State, Magwi County and a member of the party, SPLM,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Oringa Daniel also confirmed his release and that his case will be settled before June 17.
“We hope that it will be settled because there is a landmark that is already indicated that it will be settled. The complainant just asks for the money instead of taking us through a trial because he has no sufficient evidence,” said Oringa
When asked what they would do for being forced to pay the compensation despite insisting on their innocence, Oringa said: “Once the case is done, we are going to sit down with them then we decide what to do. I cannot decide anything on my own at the moment.”
Santa Anek Elpidio, a community member in Magwi County, expressed happiness for the release of their sons
A youth leader for the Omeo community in Magwi County and Otto’s relative, Oryem Moses Silvio, said: “I call him a brother with a great passion, and when the incident happened, none of us was happy. I was the first to start the process of bailing him out. Yes, we negotiated with the complainant and we agreed to a dialogue between the Jonglei and Acholi communities. However, the case was too politicized, forcing us to try our best to where we have reached today.”
On the details of the payment, he said they have been doing it in instalments as they also have the lawyers’ fee to settle.