A journalist working for the community Singaita FM Radio Station in Eastern Equatoria State was arrested on Tuesday for airing a story about the breaking of the Catholic Church statue.
Sisto Germano Ohide becomes the third victim of the statue saga after two family members of the woman said to have broken the statue were arrested last Friday.
Armed police from Torit, accompanied by lawyer Anthony Beda, went to the home of the suspect and seized her mother and the sister.
The arrest happened after a priest at the St Paul Parish, Fr Anthony Odoemelamm, had reportedly received US$3,500 for the replacement of the broken statue.
A police officer at the Kapoeta Municipal Council, who is not authorized to speak to the media, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj Tuesday that the journalist was in their custody awaiting a transfer to Torit where the case has been opened.
Journalist Ohide said he believed his arrest came because of the story he wrote about the breaking of the statue at Our Lady of Holy Rosary, and for which US$3,500 compensation had been demanded.
He said he has been receiving threats in relation to the story about the payment and believes it is the cause of the alleged defamation.
The President of the Union of Journalist in South Sudan (UJOSS), Patrick Oyet, also confirmed to Radio Tamazuj the arrest, describing the whole procedure as contravening the freedom of the media.
South Sudanese journalists report frequent obstruction, harassment and arbitrary arrests by the authorities, limiting their ability to inform the public.
South Sudan’s government in October last year admitted to having censored the media and removing articles it deemed to incite hatred after a U.N.-backed inquiry detailed “pervasive” restrictions on free press in the world’s youngest country.
South Sudan ranks 136th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ annual World Press Freedom Index 2024.