Woman sentenced to 5 years in prison for drug trafficking

JUBA – South Sudan’s High Court in Juba on Thursday sentenced a woman to five years in jail for trafficking drugs and acquitted four others due to lack of evidences.

Zerida Andrew Alizo, 31-year-old South Sudanese national was charged under Article 383 of South Sudan Penal Code Act 2008 for unlawful involvement in dangerous drug dealings.

The five accused were arrested by the Anti-Drug Department in November 2020 at Juba International Airport in possession of 26 kilograms of heroin.

Those acquitted are two Kenyans; Brian Osmego Fitao, and Jackson Cairo Moniga, and two Nigerians Dudo Noma, and Christopher Anahnon, and Dina Bortel, female Ugandan national.

The presiding judge, Alexander Sabor Subek, said Zerida was convicted in possession of 26 kilograms of heroin as well as her involvement in drug trafficking.

“This court found accused number three Zerida Andew Alizo guilty of possession of dangerous drugs. The court found that she was the one who went and bought the material the drugs were put in and this material was bought here in South Sudan,” Sabor said on Thursday.

Sabri Wani Ladu, Head of State Public Prosecution of Central Equatoria State described the sentence as lenient to the type of crime committed by the accused person.

“We respect the judgments but we will appeal against the judgment in terms of conviction and in terms of sentences which are very lenient compared to the type of crime committed by the accused person,” Wani said.

“We do respect the court order but unfortunately the conviction is only done for one person while the prosecution team has presented a case of organized crime with involvement of suspects from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda,” Wani added.

James Altaib Jazz, Defense Advocate for convicts said they have the right to appear within 15-day in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

“The section 383 give three options between imprisonment, fine and or both, the court didn’t explained why the put her in prison and not fine her because she is a lady at lower age, a mother and student, all these give ground for the court to sentence her by fining and not imprisonment sentence,” Altaib said.