A dispute over digital evidence has emerged in the ongoing trial of suspended South Sudanese First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and seven co-defendants, as defense lawyers challenged the prosecution’s presentation of hash values during the 60th court session at Freedom Hall in Juba on Monday.
The conflict arose when the prosecution’s South African digital forensic expert, Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi, submitted hash values—unique digital fingerprints used to verify file integrity—for electronic materials including WhatsApp chats and messages extracted from seized devices.
Machar’s lead defense lawyer, Dr. Geri Raimondo Legge, rejected these as insufficient, describing them as “mere paper” lacking signatures, names, dates, stamps, or the raw underlying data.
He argued that true verification requires direct access to the original devices, explaining: “If you click WhatsApp, it will open and you will see the content, even Messenger. These raw materials are always maintained on the original device, whether on a phone, WhatsApp or a laptop.”
The defense requested court permission to open the mobile phones of the accused to review contents firsthand and to introduce their own expert to generate and present matching hash values.
Lead prosecutor Ajo Ony’Ohisa countered by accusing the defense of employing delaying tactics and raising preliminary objections to avoid cross-examining the expert’s report.
He described the defense’s hash value explanation as “misleading and incorrect,” noting that even laypeople could grasp the concept online.
While prosecutors had no objection to the defense bringing their own expert for verification, Ony’Ohisa pointed out a prior court ruling denying physical access to the phones, arguing the renewed request undermined that decision.
Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned proceedings until Wednesday to allow cross-examination of Rafadi to continue.
The trial involves charges of murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity against Machar (73) and co-defendants Puot Kang Chuol (40), Mam Pal Dhuor (37), Gatwech Lam Puoch (66), Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam (53), Camilo Gatmai Kel (47), Mading Yak Riek (45), and Dominic Gatgok Riek (27).
Prosecutors allege opposition SPLA-IO forces, allied with the White Army militia, attacked the Nasir garrison in March 2025, killing 257 SSPDF soldiers—including commander David Majur Dak—and destroying or seizing equipment worth about $58 million.
Machar remains under house arrest, while co-defendants are detained at National Security Service facilities in Juba.
The evidence dispute highlights ongoing tensions over the handling and authentication of digital materials in the high-profile case.
