A total of 31 inmates were on Monday released in Yirol County of South Sudan’s Lakes State as part of efforts to control the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic.
Barnaba Mayor, the secretary general of the now defunct Eastern Lakes State, told Radio Tamazuj that the inmates released were those with minor cases.
“There is congestion in the prison. There were over 215 inmates and the facility is very small. So we started the release of those whose cases can be handled by community chiefs. Such cases include theft and marriage disputes,” he said.
He added, “We started the release of the 31 since Friday [last week], but the inmates with murder and adultery cases will not be bailed out as this may spark tensions among the locals.”
South Sudan has confirmed a second case of the new coronavirus on Tuesday after it confirmed a first case Sunday.
There are concerns a surge in COVID-19 cases would quickly overwhelm South Sudan's fragile health system.