The General Court Martial (GCM) sitting in Juba on Friday sentenced Private Yak Garang Yak to death by firing squad after it found him guilty of killing three Syrian nationals and a South Sudanese boy in Akon Village in Warrap State in January.

During the hearing, Garang said he killed the Syrians, who he worked with at a construction site, because they underpaid him, did not cater for the medication of his family, and the poor working conditions.

While passing the final judgment, the President of the General Court Martial, Maj Gen. Majok Michael Chan, said after perusing the evidence presented by witnesses and the confession of the accused, the court found Private Garang guilty of premeditated murder.

Describing his offense as first-degree murder, the court charged the convict under Section 83 of the SPLA Act 2009, read together with Section 206 of the South Sudan Penal Code Act 2008, Section 83 read together with 327 for damaging a vehicle, and section 67 of the SPLA Act 2009 which deals with disobedience of lawful orders.

Yak was dismissed from the army and sentenced to death by firing squad.

“The convict Private Yak Garang Yak is dismissed from SSPDF with effects from 3 March 2023,” Gen. Majok ruled. “The convict is sentenced to death by firing squad.”

The President of the GCM said the convict has a right to appeal the court’s ruling within 15 days.

After the reading of the verdict, the court gave the representatives of the victims a chance to suggest if they wanted to forgive the convict, be compensated, or endorse the verdict.

The representative of the deceased Syrians endorsed the verdict while a relative of Deng Malong Malual (the deceased local boy) demanded 51 cows as blood compensation. Court rejected the latter.

Meanwhile, Alen Anthony Juma, the private tights prosecutor, welcomed the verdict and commended the GCM for delivering justice.

“For us in the private rights team, we see the court ruling as fair and genuine and simple,” he said. “From here we give thanks to the GCM and the security team for being with us till the end of the case.”

On his part, William Johnson Dut of the defense team said they tried to defend their client Private Garang but the law took its course.

He said they will file an appeal within the stipulated 15 days.