21 suspects arrested over Amadi land sales fraud scam on trial in Juba

JUBA – At-least 21 suspects arrested for their alleged involvement in Amadi land demarcation last week in Central Equatoria State of South Sudan are facing trial in Juba, a state official confirmed on Monday.

Recently, police arrested more than 21 unauthorized individuals found allocating land to unsuspecting buyers in Amadi which is located northwest of the capital Juba at just 5000 SSP.

“Those who are selling the land in Amadi are criminals; recently I went there and arrested 21 people. They were brought to Mauna Police and they are now on the trial,” Charles Joseph Wani, Commissioner of Juba County in Central Equatoria State told reporters in Juba on Monday at a press conference in his offices.

Shutting down of offices of chiefs illegally demarcating lands in Juba

The Commissioner Wani has threatened to shut down offices of local chiefs illegally selling and demarcating lands in Juba.

“I am going to close down all those offices of chiefs operating in most areas of Juba County for illegally selling and demarcating lands. Some of them have even established courts to try people without the approval of state authorities,” he told reporters in Juba on Monday.

He warned the civil population to refrain from this illegal practice of obtaining the land through such dubious ways.

“Let the general public refrains from such activities because those people are criminals who just want to make money from you,” he cautioned the public.

“I want to make the public aware that we don’t have chiefs here who can give lands to people; those chiefs selling lands out are criminals,” he added.

He warned the state government would not condone such unlawful act of demarcating lands without approval from state authorities.

“Here in Juba County, I know the chiefs I have appointed. All those outside callings themselves chiefs are not chiefs but criminals,” he disclosed.

He urged security organs to beef up an intelligence network towards trapping those behind the ongoing illegal allotting of plots.

“I am calling on the national and state governments, security apparatus to collaborate to stop land grabbing issues and arrest anybody found demarcating lands without permission from county commissioner,” he said.