Hearings and trials at the courts in Jonglei State capital, Bor, have been suspended until further notice days after floodwaters overrun the court premises and the state secretariat. 

The President of the High Court in Jonglei, Justice John Yel Aleu, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the flood-induced closure which came into effect Thursday last week will hold until floodwaters dry. 

He pointed out the decision was taken because of a lack of space for court proceedings.

“Since Thursday last week, the premises of the High Court, the county court and the town court have been submerged in floodwaters. And even the place for the public prosecution attorney is in water. Even if we have cases, we do not have a place to sit. So, the only thing we did was to suspend all the cases until this issue of floods is addressed,” Aleu explained. 

“So far, 7 minor cases have been bailed out. But the ones to do with the murders will remain in the prison,” he added. 

The High Court official called for patience and restraint among the Bor residents saying they will be served as soon as lives return to normalcy. 

A Bor resident, Ayuen Mach, welcomed the suspension but said it could be just if the authorities relocated the customary courts to the displaced camps. 

“Suspension because of flooding is justifiable. We all know that Bor is flooded. But my appeal is that customary courts should be relocated to places like Mangalla,” he said.    

Floods have hit Jonglei State since February. Media reports show that over 80 percent of the state capital, Bor has been submerged in floodwaters, with residents displaced to the higher grounds within the town or the neighboring regions.