A Juba County First Grade Magistrate recently rejected an activist’s bail application, causing outrage among his defense team. Morris Mabior Awikjok Bak, a government critic, has been facing a criminal defamation charge, which is considered bailable. Lead defense counsel Kiir Chol Deng expressed his surprise and frustration at the judge’s decision, believing it was driven by fear of the unknown.
The court session was adjourned to August 8 due to an appeal by National Security Services (NSS) against the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs’ decision to quash some charges against Mabior. Despite the ongoing legal battles, the defense team remains hopeful, with plans to take their case to the Supreme Court.
Mabior, a former refugee in Kenya, was abducted in Nairobi and brought back to South Sudan by NSS. Since then, he has been detained and is now facing a defamation case brought by the security chief. The defense team is determined to fight for Mabior’s rights and seek justice in the face of adversity.