Yirol West County ex-commissioner release from life imprisonment Article Comments (7) Email PrintSave --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 5, 2011 (JUBA) - The former commissioner of Yirol West County Agok Manyiel Dhieu of Lakes state was released from Rumbek central prison on Wednesday evening on the order of South Sudan Supreme Court chief judge John Wol Makec. Manyiel was accused in 2010 of masterminding the killing of a civilian through his bodyguard in Anuol payam [district] of Yirol West County. Manyiel was sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2010 at Rumbek High Court of appeal. In June 2010 he was briefly released from prison as he was suffering from typhoid and had to receive urgent medical treatment in hospital. This week the verdict of Rumbek High Court was dismissed by chief justice John Wol Makec when Manyiel took his case to South Sudan’s highest court. South Sudan Supreme Court set Manyiel free saying that they believed he was not guilty. Manyiel expressed his happiness at clearing his name and becoming a free man. “In my previous talk with all the journalists, I use[d] to tell them that one day one time I will be free because I am not guilty. So it was not a surprised to me because I am confident in myself that I did not committed any mistake against anybody. So when judge came yesterday [ ... ] I was happy when he told me that the order of your release has come from the supreme court, that I am confirm[ed] not guilt. I was very happy”. The member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) told South Sudan’s ruling party that he will restart his duties as SPLM chairman at the county level. He added that he did not regret his arrest. “As the chairman of the SPLM at the county level, I am going start my work immediately. I will be moving to my county, I will be visiting my payams, I will be talking to my secretaries, I will inform them that I have come back and I am coming to start my duty." In the time since his imprisonment South Sudan has held a self determination referendum and become an independent nation. "I am also happy to see that our nation is now independent nation and we will continue new life with my people. So I am not regretting because of my arrest because I have not lost anything . My parents was outside, my family, my colleagues and friends were doing work and SPLM still existing”. Meanwhile the SPLM Lakes State acting chairman Malou Moses Majok, welcomed the release of Mr. Manyiel, and he appealed that he resume his duties as SPLM county chairperson immediately. Moses said that the verdict was a victory for “comrade Agok [Manyiel Dhieu] as a person and [for] his family". He also said that it was a victory for the SPLM that a senior politicians had been arrested and released through proper judicial processes. "I am happy and I wish comrade Agok [Manyiel Dhieu] to resume his duty as the SPLM chairperson for the success of the SPLM in that county”. (ST) -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JFD info" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jfdinfo?hl=en.
