A Juba court on Thursday decided to adjourn a case involving Bishop David Akau Kuol of the Awerial Diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan (ECSS) to 5 July.
The adjournment comes in response to a request made by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Philip Manyok. The religious leader is facing an unlawful cohabitation accusation.
Amos Awan has filed a lawsuit against Bishop Akau, alleging that he has been engaged in an unlawful cohabitation arrangement with his daughter, Amer, for nearly 12 years. During the court hearing, Bishop Akau was represented by his legal counsel, as the plaintiff’s side was lacking legal representation.
Following the brief court session, Advocate Philip Manyok addressed journalists and explained the reason for requesting the adjournment.
Manyok said: “Since the beginning of the case, the plaintiff has not had legal representation. I have prepared a comprehensive statement to present the plaintiff’s case properly, considering her limited understanding of legal matters. Therefore, I requested the adjournment to allow sufficient time for preparation.”
Esther Amos, sister of the Bishop’s wife in question, expressed her disappointment with Bishop Akau, holding him responsible for neglecting his responsibilities toward her sister and their child.
Emotionally, Esther said, “Akau David compelled us to come here. We had a conversation, and he knows the promises he made and what I told him. He complicated everything, which is why we find ourselves here. If he had accepted his responsibilities from the beginning, none of this would have happened.”
“When my sister went to Awerial, he treated her very poorly. He even forced them out of his home. Why is he denying something that everyone already knows? The child is growing. Is it because he is a Bishop or for some other reason? This case began in 2017, and our family did not discuss it because the Bishop repeatedly promised to settle the issues,” Esther explained.
She further accused the Bishop of abandoning her sister for 13 years without providing proper care and emphasized the family’s pursuit of justice through the court.
“We want him to fully assume responsibility. He has delayed my sister’s life for 13 years. You cannot ruin someone’s life like this. He will have to take responsibility for my sister and the child,” she added.
In response to the allegations, Makuei Deng Makuei, a supporter of Bishop Akau, claimed that the case against the Bishop is politically motivated. “This is a politically motivated smear campaign against the man of God. Those behind it are members of the Bishop’s own community. However, the truth will prevail before everyone. We are grateful that it has come to court, and the legal process will determine the Bishop’s guilt or innocence,” Makuei stated.
The South Sudan Penal Code 2008 says every person who by deceit causes any other person who is not lawfully married to him or her to believe that he or she is lawfully married to him or her and to cohabit or have sexual intercourse with him or her in that belief, commits an offence, and upon conviction, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or with a fine or with both.
Article 265 further says whoever dishonestly or with fraudulent intent goes through the ceremony of being married knowing that he or she is not thereby lawfully married, commits an offence, and upon conviction, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or with a fine or with both.