Loreom Joseph Longie who had been “arbitrarily detained” at the National Security Service (NSS) headquarters in Juba since September 2014 passed away on 17 July, according to a human rights group. 

Amnesty International said in a statement yesterday that two other detainees Benjamin Taban and Joseph Ngec have been released while 30 other men remain arbitrarily detained at the NSS headquarters. 

“Loreom Joseph Longie, 36 years-old, died in the early morning of 17 July while undergoing treatment at Juba Teaching Hospital. He had been taken to the hospital on 14 July by NSS officers. Amnesty International has been informed that poor conditions at the NSS detention facility—including physical abuse, insufficient food and medical care—may have contributed to his death. He was said to be suffering from a tapeworm infection that went untreated and caused liver damage,” reads the Amnesty statement. 

NSS officers arrested Loreom Joseph in late September 2014 in Kapoeta, Eastern Equatoria State. He was detained in Kapoeta for three days, during which he was interrogated about suspected links with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) and subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

“NSS officers beat him severely, pierced his testicles with needles, and dripped molten plastic on to his skin. He was then transferred to Juba and detained at the NSS headquarters in the Jebel neighbourhood until his death.”

He spent 22 months in NSS detention, without being charged or presented in court.

Two other detainees, Benjamin Taban and Joseph Ngec were released in early June. 30 other men remain arbitrarily detained at the NSS headquarters and have been denied the right to be brought promptly before a judge and the right to challenge the lawfulness of their detention.