Ginaba Lino
South Sudan Supreme Court has released the Catholic priest Father John Mathiang who was sentenced to 14 years in jail for allegedly involvement in the Bishop shooting in Rumbek.
His release came after an appeal from the defense team of the Priest and the court nullified the jailed team due to insufficient evidence to prove him guilty.
The Priest is among four suspects sentenced over the shooting of the then Bishop-elect for the Catholic Diocese of Rumbek, now Bishop Christian Carlassare.
The advocate of the freed Priest Doctor Geri Raimondo welcomed the move saying any person has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court which is the highest and last resort for any agreed person.
“Father John Mathiang was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by the High Court, later on, we appealed to the Court of Appeal for Greater Equatoria, and unfortunately the honorable Court of Appeal for greater confirmed the conviction and the sentence of 14 years.”
After the appeal to the Supreme Court, they found there was no insufficient evidence on allegations against Father Mathiang, “Says the defense team.”
Fr. Mathiang expressed his heartfelt to the Supreme Court of South Sudan and the defense team worked hard to find out the truth and set him free.
He calls on those who have been misunderstanding him to take courage and join hands together at the foot of the Cross where Jesus took all the sins of people upon himself and reconciled with God and one another.
The Catholic priest expresses his humbleness to Bishop Christian Carlasare of Rumbek Diocese, citing that he is his Bishop and he is not against his appointment.
“To my Bishop, Bishop Christian, you know how much I received you in Rumbek and how I handled your announcement, I have nothing against you, and I’m not opposing your appointment.”
Mathiang went ahead to appeal to the Country of South Sudan and the people of Lake State not me ashamed of him, adding that he has been there to serve as God called him to dedicate his life to Jesus Christ for their good and the good of the kingdom.
The Catholic priest shows his readiness to go back to the Diocese of Rembek and join hands together with his Bishop and fellow priests to continue his service as a priest.
Fr. Mathiang describes his being in prison as God’s call to witness another form of life.
Mathiang was convicted and sentenced to 14 years in a 25 April 2022 High Court ruling in which the judge said that the member of the Clergy of Rumbek Diocese had been found guilty alongside Moris Sebit Ater, Laat Makur Agok, and Samuel Makir for “participating directly or indirectly” in the attempted assassination.