The administrator of Adok Payam in Unity State’s Leer County has been released from detention by SPLA-IO commanders following the intervention of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar after spending three weeks in jail.
Speaking to Radio Tamazju on Friday, the police director in Leer County, Tor Thor, confirmed the release of James Bichiok Gatluak Thiech on Thursday afternoon after being arrested on 26 November.
“During the arrest of Adok Payam Administrator James Bichiok Gatluak Thiech, the order from the SPLA-IO generals was that he should stop the workers belonging to the state government and county authority from performing their usual duties at the Adok Port which the administrator declined and refused to comply with,” he explained. “For now the payam administrator is out from detention during which he was seriously tortured in Rupkong which is the military base headquarters of the SPLA-IO Division 4B. He has recovered a bit now and looks okay.”
Two weeks ago, Dr. Machar, the Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA-IO, ordered his forces to release the payam administrator through a letter directed to the local commander in the areas.
Leer County Commissioner Stephen Taker Riek Dong confirmed Bichiok’s release from detention on Thursday.
“The incident took place on 26 November at the payam headquarters and the administrator was arrested at his office, tortured, and detained in Adok. His name is James Bichiok Gatluak Thiech and he was released on Thursday afternoon,” he said.
Commissioner Taker said Bichiok was released without any conditions after Dr. Machar communicated with the local SPLA-IO leadership.
“The payam administrator resumed his duties and is now at the office in Adok Payam,” he added.