Juba court orders Defence Ministry to pay $1.4 million to shooting victims
A court in Juba has ordered the Ministry of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs, in absentia, to pay about 1.4 million US dollars in compensation to two victims who suffered injuries, property losses and psychological harm during an armed confrontation near the residence of former intelligence chief General Akol Koor in November 2024.
The ruling was delivered by Presiding Judge Ajok Tito Tilar in a case filed by Advocate Manawa Gabriel Mokwej and Agum Andria over the incident on 21 November 2024.
According to their lawyer, Advocate Angelo Thon Pal, the confrontation occurred at around 7 p.m. near the residence of General Koor, the former Director of National Security, who remains under house arrest, according to the account presented in court.
Speaking after the ruling, Thon Pal said the court ordered the ministry to pay Mokwej 274,850 US dollars for medical expenses, the value of his vehicle and other damages.
He said the court also awarded Mokwej 30 head of cattle in connection with a disability assessed at 60 per cent, according to a medical report, and 800,000 US dollars in compensation for moral and psychological harm.
For the second plaintiff, Agum Andria, Thon Pal said the court ordered the ministry to pay 81,170 US dollars for medical expenses, vehicle losses and other damages, along with 300,000 US dollars for moral and psychological harm.
“The court decrees as followed: For Advocate Manawa Gabriel Mokwej, the court has issued the following 274 and 850 US dollars as to be paid by the Ministry of Defence as medical expense in value of his car and other damages. 30 heads of cows being disability percentage estimated at 60% according to medical report from 800,000 US dollars being moral and mental compensation,” the judge said.
“In case to the second plaintiff, that is Madam Agum Andaria, the court issued that the Ministry of Defense shall pay 81,170 US dollars as medical expenses plus the car and other damages 300,000 US dollars being a compensation for mental and moral damages,” he said.
Thon Pal said the next step would be to begin enforcement proceedings to ensure the ministry complies with the judgment.
He said his legal team would open an execution file, after which the ministry would be summoned to implement the court’s decision.
The lawyer added that the court had mechanisms to enforce its judgments if the ministry failed to comply.
He cited Article 20 of the Transitional Constitution of South Sudan, which guarantees the right to litigation, saying the plaintiffs had sought justice through the country’s legal system.
Thon Pal also referred to presidential directives calling for compensation for victims of the incident and expressed confidence that the ministry would comply with the court’s ruling.
The case concerns an armed confrontation near General Koor’s residence on 21 November 2024, during which the two plaintiffs said they sustained injuries and suffered property losses.
