LEER – A local court in Leer County, Unity State, sentenced a 28-year-old man to five years in prison for defilement, a local chief announced on Sunday.
Peter Kiir, the sixth-ranking local chief in Leer, told Sudans Post that the man was found guilty of sexually assaulting an 8-year-old girl. The incident occurred on January 17, 2024 and the ruling took place on Tuesday, January 23.
“The court convicted him and sentenced him to five years in jail for defiling an 8-year-old girl. The incident took place on January 17th, 2024, between Juong and Leer County headquarters,” Kiir said.
He added that the victim was transferred to Leer town hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the assault.
“The girl was evacuated to Leer hospital on Tuesday, where she receives treatment for injuries resulting from the incident,” he stated.
This marks the second time in recent months that a Leer court has sentenced a perpetrator of defilement to jail.
Last month, two separate five-year sentences were handed down to individuals convicted of assaulting minors.
Defilement is a serious crime in South Sudan, but enforcing legal provisions can be challenging due to deep-rooted traditions and customs.
