By Matik Kueth
On Wednesday, the ongoing trial of the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, and seven other co-accused took a dramatic turn as the defense questioned the reliability of critical digital evidence.
At the 65th session at Freedom Hall in Juba, South African digital forensic expert Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi admitted that several photographs used to link the accused to the March 2025 Nasir County attacks were taken years earlier, in 2021 and 2022.
Defense lead Dr. Geri Raymond Legge argued that the images, showing armed youths in bush settings, were taken out of context and relied on Rafadi’s interpretation rather than direct ties to the alleged crimes.
Rafadi insisted that all materials extracted from the phones, based on keywords like “youth” and “gun,” were relevant regardless of the date they were captured.
The cross-examination also scrutinized alleged financial links, including a transfer of 625,000 Ethiopian birr, supposedly involving Gen. Hokdor Chuol and one of the accused.
Rafadi cited extracted messages mentioning “Nasir,” “birr,” and individuals’ names, alongside images of ammunition shared via phone.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the session to Wednesday, 8 April 2026, meaning the court is currently on a brief recess.
With the trial set to resume next week, attention is now on whether the prosecution can defend the credibility of its digital evidence against mounting doubts.
Machar and his allies continue to face treason charges in court despite peace monitors’ appeal for his release.
Meanwhile, his co-accused, including Puot Kang Chuol, Mam Pal Dhuor, Gatwech Lam Puoch, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek, and Dominic Gatgok Riek, are held in National Security Service facilities in Juba.