A newly established mobile court in Pibor town, the capital city of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), handed down a death sentence by hanging to a 32-year-old man named John Boyei.
The verdict was issued on Tuesday, finding him guilty of murdering another man in 2019 over a romantic involvement with his wife.
Ongueli Kwot Okumo, the president of the mobile court, shared details with Radio Tamazuj, revealing that Boyei’s case is one of several murder and adultery cases the court has been addressing since its establishment last Friday. The court is set to operate for a month, handling over 50 cases, predominantly involving murder, adultery, and kidnapping.
Justice Ongueli clarified, “Today (Tuesday), the court sentenced a man to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murder under section 206 of the Penal Code Act 2008. The murder convict had killed another man involved in adultery with his wife in 2019. However, the adultery case had been settled, and the perpetrator compensated. During the hearing, the family of the man killed in 2019 rejected any blood compensation, and the court acted accordingly.”
Judge Ongueli explained that ongoing hearings and trials aim to resolve the backlog of more than 50 cases before the court. “Our mandate will expire by March 30, and by then, we aim to have addressed about 50 cases. We are racing against time to deliver justice. Pibor residents are urged not to take the law into their own hands but to seek justice through legal means. We are here to serve them, consisting of a judge, a prosecutor, a defense lawyer, and two support staff,” he emphasized.
Abraham Kelang, the GPAA Information minister, expressed relief over the mobile court’s presence in Pibor. He stated, “We have had the mobile court with us since last Friday. They handle cases beyond the jurisdiction of our red chiefs, including murder cases. Now, a man has been sentenced to death for murder. As a government, we are pleased to have a court in Pibor delivering justice according to our laws.”
In the same vein, civil society activist Bol Deng Bol praised the establishment of the mobile court in GPAA, considering it a relief for an area that has been cut off from judiciary services.