The government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State through the High Court released 167 prisoners who were convicted of minor crimes at Aweil Central Prison on Tuesday.
The state government paid more than SSP 3 million in fines.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, Abraham Majur Lat, the President of the High Court in the state, said the inmates were released after the government paid their fines.
“We freed 167 inmates out of them are 28 women who were convicted for minor fines ranging from SSP 2,000 to SSP 5,000 and so forth. Their punishment terms were between three to six months,” said Majur.
“Most punishments were connected to robbery activities among underage individuals and the state government has paid SSP 3,489,000,” he added.
Two of the freed prisoners spekaing to Radio Tamazuj expressed happiness and gratitude to the state government.
“I am one of the happy inmates who have just been released because this event happened by chance because the judge told me that there was no compromise in punishment, but now the government has intervened,” said a jubilant Treza Adhel Deng.
Another detainee, Abuk Deng Ngor, said: “I was arrested and sentenced on 15th November because I drank wine and got drunk and my brother brought me before the court. I was sentenced to three months jail term and also slapped with a fine of SSP 30,000.”
“I thank God because the government of South Sudan has paid the needed amount and it freed me,” Abuk said.