(JUBA) – The rape case involving a teenage girl who was sexually assaulted in Gumbo-Sherikat last month is currently under review by the Public Prosecution’s Legal Department and is expected to be referred to court once the evaluation is complete, legal authorities have confirmed.
Josphine Adhel, the survivor’s legal representative, said the young girl is still receiving medical care following the assault, which reportedly involved up to 15 young men. Out of those, police arrested 13 individuals, including several whose identities were captured in video evidence.
Speaking to media on Friday, Adhel explained that only eight of the original suspects remain in detention, as five were released during the preliminary legal process.
“The girl is still undergoing treatment. According to her statement, 15 young men assaulted her. The police managed to arrest 13, including those whose faces were seen in the video,” she said.
“The case file is now being reviewed by the Legal Department of the Public Prosecution. Once the process is complete, it will be officially transferred to court,” Adhel added.
Meanwhile, Obaj Othor Lual, the Prosecutor at Gumbo-Sherikat Police Station, stated that the Public Prosecution dropped charges against six of the suspects due to lack of evidence. He clarified that the eight remaining individuals include five who were directly involved in the assault and three who were present at the scene.
“We in the Public Prosecution have dropped the report against six individuals because there was not enough evidence. Currently, eight defendants are being held. Five are directly involved, while the other three were present during the incident,” Othor said.
He added that the delay in referring the case to court is partly due to the failure by law enforcement to arrest the remaining four suspects still at large.
“The reason for the delay is the inability of the police to apprehend the four other suspects. They will be added to the case file once arrested. After the Legal Department completes its evaluation, the case will be forwarded to court,” he said.
The case sparked outrage among civil society groups and residents of Juba’s suburb of Gumbo-Sherikat who have called for swift justice and greater efforts from authorities to bring all suspects to account.
