JUBA – The Government of South Sudan has dismissed allegations that former Vice President and Economic Cluster Chair, Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel, privately funded prosecutors handling the high-profile court trial involving Dr. Riek Machar and seven others, including alleged daily stipends of USD 6,000 per prosecutor.
The response follows detailed claims made by Juol Nhomngek, a former SPLM-IO lawmaker and prominent online political commentator, who alleged that Bol Mel not only housed the prosecution team in a Juba hotel but also provided vehicles and substantial daily payments before his dismissal earlier this week.
In a statement issued Sunday, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs described the allegations as “false and misleading,” saying they distort the functioning of the justice system and threaten to undermine an active legal process.
“The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has learned of a false and misleading social media post alleging that Dr. Benjamin Bol Mel funded, directed, or facilitated any form of financial support to prosecutors,” the statement said. “The Ministry remains committed to safeguarding due process, protecting the rule of law, and ensuring that justice is administered without political interference.”
Nhomngek claimed that the prosecution team working on the case was accommodated at a hotel allegedly secured by Bol Mel, who reportedly promised to settle the accumulating bills. According to him, the group was evicted after Bol Mel’s dismissal when the payments were not made. He further alleged that cars issued to prosecutors by Bol Mel were confiscated following his arrest.
He also argued that such alleged private financing compromised the independence of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), asserting that the office failed in its constitutional mandate to exercise impartiality as required by the Transitional Constitution and other governing legal frameworks. According to his account, the case effectively became “Bol Mel’s case,” since no budget was approved by the government for the prosecution.
But the Ministry strongly rejected those assertions, warning that spreading unverified or fabricated information risks prejudicing the ongoing court proceedings. It cautioned the public, media houses, and online commentators against circulating claims that could interfere with the administration of justice.
“As this matter remains an ongoing legal case, we strongly caution the public and media against spreading misinformation that may prejudice the proceedings,” the Ministry stated. It added that those who intentionally disseminate false narratives may face legal consequences.
While the Ministry did not specifically address the allegations concerning hotel accommodations, vehicle confiscations, or the alleged USD 6,000 daily payments, it reiterated that all prosecutorial functions fall strictly under the Prosecution Authority and must be carried out independently in accordance with South Sudanese law.
