Journalist detained for crime he didn’t commit gets SSP3 million bail

JUBA – A South Sudanese journalist who was detained by police authorities in the capital Juba for a crime he didn’t commit has been released after posting at least 3 million South Sudanese Pounds as bail.

Mariak Bol Majok, the editor in chief of the independent Juba-based Talk of Juba news publication, said in an interview with Sudans Post that he was arrested by police authorities in Juba on Sunday and was detained through Wednesday.

Journalist Bol said one of his friends took his care and fell for a fatal accident that killed the friend on spot, and a pedestrian who later died from injuries incurred during the accident.

“I got arrested after I gave my car to a friend and had fatal accident. He died after car overturned. He also knocked a pedestrian who also died. I was called to police station and arrested together with my wife as the car was registered in her name,” Bol said.

He said the police authorities have been denying him bail and on Wednesday, they demanded 3 million SSP as a bail.

“For 3 days police denied me bail and on the third day they demanded 3M SSP as cash bail. My lawyers said there’s no legal basis for such huge bail amount with regards to my case,” he said.

“In the end, we had no option but to pay the cash and I was freed,” he added.

Bol who revealed that the there is no complainer against said they have been told by the police that the case will be forwarded to the court and was promised to get his money back if the court decided in his favor.

“We’re told the files will now be forward to court and there’s no complainer because the family of the victim (driver) have made it clear they don’t have a case against me since I wasn’t the driver or in the car at the time of accident,” he added.

“They say if I’m acquitted the money will be returned. But I have no complainer. My lawyers will appeal their decision on Monday,” he added.