Lawyers defending suspended First Vice President and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar in the ongoing treason trial said National Security Service officials blocked them from meeting him despite court approval to prepare his defense testimony.
The defense team raised the matter during the 104th session
of the trial at Freedom Hall in Juba on Wednesday, after their court-approved
visit to Machar on Aug. 3 was not allowed to proceed on Tuesday.
Defense lawyer Kur Lual Kur told the court the legal team
was denied access to Machar at his residence because of administrative delays
involving the National Security Service, arguing that the restriction
undermined the defense's preparations ahead of his testimony.
Lead prosecutor Ajo Ony'Ohisa confirmed the prosecution had
not opposed the court-approved visit. However, he explained that the meeting
could not proceed because clearance from the Director General of the National
Security Service had not been secured before the end of the day.
The prosecution also objected to the inclusion of advocate
Chout Alier in the proposed visit, arguing that he was not among the lawyers
officially recognized by the court as members of Machar's defense team.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng ordered security officials
to allow Machar's lawyers to meet him at his residence at 9 a.m. on Thursday,
provided only lawyers whose names appear on the court's approved list attend.
Judge Alala also cautioned security agencies against
obstructing or delaying access to the accused, warning that such actions waste
the court's time and hinder the timely administration of justice.
The court adjourned until Friday, Aug. 7, when Machar is
expected to begin presenting his defense.
Machar and seven co-accused face charges including murder,
conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property and crimes
against humanity over the March 2025 attack on the Nasir military garrison.
Prosecutors allege that forces linked to the Sudan People's
Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO), alongside the White Army militia,
killed 257 South Sudan People's Defence Forces soldiers and destroyed or seized
military equipment during the attack. All eight accused have denied the
charges.