RUMBEK, South Sudan – Authorities in South Sudan’s Lakes State arrested and dismissed a police officer after he severely injured a public prosecutor in Yirol West County on Tuesday, August 6, at 3 p.m. The altercation occurred after a dispute between the prosecutor and a warrant officer escalated into a physical confrontation, resulting in the prosecutor’s right arm being broken.
Lakes State police spokesman, Maj. Elijah Mabor Makuac, confirmed the incident to The Juba Mirror News. He explained that the prosecutor was overseeing police activities when he noticed someone detained without an arrest warrant. The prosecutor ordered the release of the detainee or the filing of a case by the complainant. The warrant officer, misunderstanding the directive, refused to comply and later attacked the prosecutor.
The prosecutor, who was injured while returning to his office, was initially treated locally but was later referred to Juba for further medical treatment due to the seriousness of his injuries. The officer responsible has been arrested, dismissed from service, and will face legal charges in court.
Senior legal counsel Philemon Alphonse Ikolli and CEPO Coordinator Daniel Laat Kon condemned the incident, citing it as a violation of law and an example of the poor training and legal understanding among police officers. Both called for improved relations between law enforcement and the judiciary to prevent similar incidents in the future.
