The special court trying suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-accused on Monday formally admitted a re-submitted digital forensic report into evidence, dismissing defense objections over discrepancies in certification dates.

During last week’s sessions, defense lawyers challenged the authentication timeline of the report, arguing that inconsistencies raised serious concerns about the integrity of the prosecution’s evidence.

The South African digital forensic expert Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi re-submitted the report after judges previously deferred prosecution filings due to disorganization, missing pagination, and unclear referencing that made it difficult for the court and defense to follow the material.

At the 56th session in Juba, Judge Stephen Simon Isaac, a member of the three-judge panel, announced the court had given the document “careful and serious” consideration before marking it as Prosecution Exhibit 9-H.

“The court subjected the document to careful and serious weighting of evidence. The document has been marked formally prosecution document number 9-H,” Simon ruled.

Presiding Judge James Alala Deng then asked the defense whether it was prepared to proceed with cross-examination of the expert or required more time.

Kur Lual Kur, one of Machar’s defense lawyers, requested a seven-day adjournment to study the report thoroughly.

“We request the court to adjourn the session to Monday, March 9, 2026, for us to study the document to cross-examine the expert,” Kur said.

Lead prosecutor Ajo Onyo’Ohisa Issa opposed the request, arguing that a week’s delay would unnecessarily prolong proceedings. He noted the court had already facilitated the defense by providing copies of the documents and that the expert had testified while the report was displayed in court.

Issa also highlighted that the witness had been in the country for about a month and had other commitments, including medical considerations, adding that further delays would increase costs.

After hearing both sides, Judge Deng adjourned the trial until Friday, March 6, 2026, granting the defense time to prepare for cross-examination.

Machar, 73, remains under house arrest, while his co-accused are detained at National Security Service facilities in Juba.

They face charges of murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity.

Prosecutors allege SPLA-IO forces, allied with the White Army, killed 257 SSPDF soldiers—including commander Gen. David Majur Dak—and destroyed or seized equipment worth approximately $58 million during the March 2025 Nasir garrison attack.