South Sudan’s former deputy chief Justice Madol Arol Kachuol said Monday that the growing crimes and crisis in the country require sweeping changes to the criminal justice system.
Madol, who spoke on Monday just a few weeks after his dismissal from the supreme court, urged the legislature to undertake reforms to address the “relentless influx” of new criminal cases overwhelming the court system.
Madol said courts need more sentencing options, and the state needs more programs, both before they are charged with a crime and after leaving prison. He also called for establishing more reformatory centers and responsible treatment of inmates.
“The challenge the government is facing is now is that the current slow judicial process needs a refit.”
Madol also blamed the justice system for aiding the spread of corruption. “In the present state, the judicial process is aiding the spread of corruption instead of putting off corruption. The government should instigate a swift judicial process with greater exemplifying effect.”
“There is no way we can have an effective fight against corruption with a judicial process that is so slow that by the time sentences come, crimes committed are already forgotten,” he explained.
He stressed that all the encumbrances that slow down the administration of justice should be removed if more judges to clean up the whole judicial system for a better judicial process to put the necessary measures in place.
“Not only that, there is a long need for a judicial system that has high options to punish corrupt elements. People have been subjected to believe that moral criteria in promotions do not count. As a result, lack of criteria for proven integrity and responsibility in government promotions is fueling corruption.”
“Therefore, the criteria of appointing those who will work with you should not only be based on loyalty to you or your party but integrity. The government should not ignore ethical assessments in your appointments because ethical shortsightedness propagates corruption.
“Let government deal with the current pathetic situation of lack of an independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). We need an ACC with independent detective officers with full power and freedom to expose the corrupt individuals regardless of their positions,” he said.
File photo: Former Deputy Chief Justice Ruben Madol Arol (left) and Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut (right) at a UNDP event.