Rumbek, 17 May, 2021 / 8:04 pm (ACI Africa).
Two South Sudanese Catholic Clerics are among dozens released last week after spending over two weeks in detention following their suspected connection with the shooting of the Bishop-elect of South Sudan’s Rumbek Diocese, Msgr. Christian Carlassare.
The two members of the Clergy of Rumbek Diocese, Fr. Luka Dor and Deacon Stephen Mangar, were among over 20 detainees “conditionally” set free May 14, most of them employees of the South Sudanese Diocese.
“Some have been conditionally released for lack of concrete evidence against them,” a source in South Sudan’s Lakes State covered by Rumbek Diocese told ACI Africa, adding that their release from detention “doesn't mean that they are completely set free. They have been ordered to stay within the boundaries of Lakes State.”
“The rest who have been found to have strong evidence have been transferred to prison awaiting the beginning of case trial,” the source further said, and confirmed that the former Coordinator of the Diocese, Fr. John Mathiang, was “moved to prison with a few others.”
A total of 41 had initially been detained, a source close to the investigation told ACI Africa Monday, May 17, adding that most of them have been conditionally set free and that only four are being detained for further investigation.
