Self-proclaimed Prophet Chol sent to jail for insulting president

The High Court in Juba has sentenced the self-proclaimed Prophet Abraham Chol to 33 months in prison for insulting president and abusing religion.

Chol of the Cush International Church was first charged of subverting the constitutional government and causing disaffection among the organized forces.

On Tuesday, the Presiding Judge Samia Mohamed said the pastor had violated section 202 of the South Sudan Penal Code Act 2008 which talk of abuse of religion and noble beliefs.

In addition to the jail term, Chol will also pay a 500,000-SSP fine, which if he failed to pay, would serve additional three months in jail.

He has already spent 18 months in prison and will continue to serve the term in jail up to the end of next year.

The pastor was arrested in July 2021 after he prophesied in a written proclamation that President Salva Kiir and his First Deputy Dr. Riek Machar would lose power on the Independence Day.

Chol said in his prophecy that there were two major occasions to be celebrated – farewell of the current leaders and the welcome of the new president – a prophecy that did not come to pass.