Unity State Governor Justice Gen. Riek Biem Tap over the weekend reiterated his order to county commissioners to immediately stop the practice of murderers and their relations compensating victims’ families with cattle.
The newly appointed governor issued the directive on Saturday while addressing inhabitants of the state on Bentiu Radio 99.0 FM. He said killers and other criminals have to be arrested, processed, and arraigned before a competent court.
Gen. Biem’s edict follows last week’s killing of an 80-year-old man by someone who claimed that his sister had been killed using wizardry in Koch County.
He ordered Koch County Commissioner Koang Biel to return the 120 head of cattle that were collected from the relatives of the killer as blood compensation to the victim’s family. Within one hour, the commissioner managed to return the cattle to their owners and the killer was arrested.
“I came here to Bentiu Radio to inform civilians that there will be no blood compensation without justice. Anyone who commits a crime against an individual and the public will face justice,” he asserted. “The suspect who killed in Koch was arrested by police and taken to Bentiu for investigation after which the killer will be sent to court when the judge arrives in Bentiu.”
“Blood compensation will be decided by the law and not by individuals like commissioners,” Gen. Biem stated.