Juba court postpones verdict in May viral police assault case

‎The Joint Special Emergency Court for Organized Forces has postponed its verdict in the trial of a police officer accused of assaulting a civilian, in a May Juba case that drew widespread public attention after a video of the incident circulated on social media.

The court rescheduled the judgment for Captain Richard Ruai to 24 July after proceedings could not be concluded during Monday’s session.

Announcing the adjournment, panel member Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Kamis Charles said the court was unable to complete the proceedings due to operational disruptions caused by a power outage.

He explained that although the hearing began as scheduled, an electricity interruption later in the day left the panel with insufficient time to present the merits of the case and deliver its findings.

The verdict had been expected after both the prosecution and defence concluded their final submissions earlier this month.

Captain Ruai is facing charges under Section 66 of the South Sudan Police Service Act for alleged breach of duties and Section 233(b) of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The case stems from an incident on 5 May 2026 in Juba’s Malakia area near James Hotel, where Ruai is accused of assaulting a civilian. Footage of the alleged assault was widely shared on social media, prompting public concern.

The Joint Special Emergency Court for Organized Forces is a special tribunal mandated to try members of the organized forces accused of committing criminal offences against civilians.

The court was established in 2015 and later reactivated by the Ministry of Interior to strengthen accountability for crimes involving security personnel.