A South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) soldier has been arrested by the police in Koch County’s Jaak Payam in Unity State for injuring his wife with a gunshot.
According to Brigadier James Tut Wal, the head of the police in Koch County, the soldier, who he said is less than 20 years old, was apprehended on Monday afternoon near the Tharjiath oilfield airstrip in Jaak Payam after he shot at and injured his wife.
“Other SSPDF officers familiar with the case explained that the perpetrator and his wife had been having fights before the shooting incident,” he explained. “The injured wife has since been taken to Koch County Hospital for medical attention since she was not recovering well from the gunshot wound she sustained.”
Brig. Tut said that after investigations, the soldier will be arraigned in front of a military court.
“When investigations are completed, the soldier will be sent to the SSPDF Fourth Division Headquarters in Rubkona for a military court martial,” he added.
At the height of the war in 2015, SSPDF soldiers and National Security Service (NSS) personnel were deployed at the Tharjiath oilfield airstrip in Jaak Payam to protect the staff and equipment of the Sudd Petroleum Operating (SPOC).
Efforts to reach the SSPDF spokesperson about the incident were futile.