By William Madouk
The Emergency Joint Court for Organized Forces has adjourned the first hearing in the trial of a police officer accused of violently assaulting a rickshaw rider in Juba, a case that has sparked widespread public anger online.
Presiding Judge Maj-Gen Raymond Legge announced the adjournment on Monday after both the investigator and the accused, identified as Captain Richard Ruai Kuol, failed to appear in court.
Judge Legge said the next hearing has been scheduled for June 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the same court hall.
Speaking to reporters after the session, Police spokesperson Maj-Gen Daniel Justin confirmed that the court could not proceed due to the absence of key parties.
“today was the first sitting of the court to, I mean, the trial of Captain of Police, which was accused last time of beating a child on the street of Juba, in High Malakal,” he noted
“For today was the first sitting of the court set, and they discovered that the investigator was not around. There are two absentees, the investigator and even the accused himself. So, the court is adjourned for this reason to make sure that they are summoned officially like before. Then the coming session will be on 11 June 2026 at 10: 00 here at the same place,” he said.
He added that the court has ordered both the investigator and the accused to be formally summoned before proceedings continue.
Maj-Gen Justin said the exact charges are still being reviewed.
“The investigator knows more about it than our legal department,” he said.
The case is being handled by the Emergency Joint Court for Organized Forces, chaired by Maj-Gen Raymond Legge and composed of three judges. The court has been in operation since around 2016.
The trial follows a viral video recorded on May 5, 2026, which shows a police officer allegedly beating an adult rickshaw rider on a busy street in Juba. The footage, widely shared on social media, triggered public outrage and renewed debate over the conduct of security personnel.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident began after the rickshaw rider allegedly damaged the officer’s car’s side mirror during a roadside dispute.
Police authorities have since condemned the incident, stressing that no officer has the right to take the law into their own hands.
“No one is above the law – not even CID officers,” a police official said, urging officers and civilians alike to follow legal procedures.
“If your mirror is broken, complain to the police – don’t take the law into your own hands and beat a citizen,” he added.
The case is expected to resume next week as authorities push to ensure all parties appear and the trial proceeds without further delays.