September 5, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — Pastor Malong Bak Malong, a Pentecostal Church Pastor from South Sudan’s Northern Bhar el Ghazal state, who has been detained in Aweil Central Prison for two months, appeals to the State Governor, Hon. Tong Akeen Ngor, to secure his release.
The religious leader, who runs the Aweil Pastors’ Fellowship (APF) and leads Jenina Christians’ Tabernacle, was arrested in July this year over land dispute; however, he claims that he has not been charged.
Speaking to media from Aweil Central Prison, Pastor Malong said his arrest is illegal as the authorities did not follow proper police protocols and as such he should be released.
According to Pastor Malong, he owns the piece of land over which his church sits claiming that he has all the documentation and if released he would present the documents to authorities.
Malong reiterates that he legally acquired the piece of land 14 years ago and therefore the matter should be a civilian case that should be heard in court instead of dragging him to prison.
He said his arrest did not follow legal due process and therefore he calls on Governor Tong Akeen to secure his release so that he can battle the case through legal system if needs be.
Speaking on behalf of Pastor Malong, Aguer Kawac Akok, the Executive Director for Christian Restore Hope-South Sudan (CRH-SS), blames the justice system for failing to take appropriate procedures to look into Pastor Malong’s case.
“We condemn the arrest; no legal procedures have been taken. The person has been put in prison for so long without investigations. All CSOs have tried but they have refused to release him despite lack of legal documents, without evidence to keep him in prison for long. We condemn the arrest,” Mr. Aguer Kawac Akok said.
Pastor Malong was previously arrested in 2019 by the former authorities and kept in jail for six months alongside 14 church members for protesting state government decision to demolish his church.
Both the court and state government of Northern Bhar el Ghazal could not be reached to comment on the matter at the time of this writing.
