The SPLA chief of military intelligence in testimony on Wednesday before a special court in Juba declined to link the four SPLM politicians on trial to an alleged military coup attempt last December.

Pag’an Amum, the ousted SPLM secretary-general, faces charges of treason alongside three former top government officials, Ezekiel Gatkuoth, Majak d’Agoot and Oyai Deng.

Two witnesses, the SPLA military intelligence chief Mac Paul, and the officer in charge of the armory at Giyada barracks, testified before the court on Wednesday. The witnesses were asked to describe the events that transpired starting the night of 15 December.

During cross-examination by the judges and the defense counsel, the two witnesses did not directly link the four detainees to the events of the 15 December incident, Eye Radio reported on its website.

Others who were in the courtroom during the session corroborated this report, saying that Mac Paul was asked about the defendants’ alleged involvement in a military coup, and he replied that they were not involved in any coup.

After the hearing, the defense lawyer Monyluak Alor expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the day’s session, saying, “From their testimonies, we don’t have anything to fear ourselves, we feel that there is no danger that they have posed to our case.”

The leader of the Prosecution Counsel, James Mayen Oka, told reporters that the prosecution side still has more witnesses to present to the court.

Yesterday’s hearing came after a delay on Tuesday when the prosecution failed to bring two witnesses to the court, saying they were away on official duties. It is reported that Minister of Internal Affairs Aleu Ayieny Aleu is also to testify.