South Sudanese lawmaker Gatwech Lam Puoch has told the court that National Security Service (NSS) officers arrested him without a warrant and bluntly informed him that “immunity does not work.”

Lam Puoch, who represents Nasir County in the National Legislative Assembly on an SPLM-IO ticket, was testifying as the third co-accused in the high-profile trial of suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.

He made the remarks during the 88th session of the trial on Monday.Lam said he was arrested on March 11, 2025, along Pope Francis Road in Juba while in his vehicle.

“I asked whether they had an arrest warrant. One of the NSS officers said there was no warrant,” he told the court.
“I am a member of parliament and constitutionally protected by parliamentary immunity… The response was that impunity does not work.”

He said he chose not to resist arrest and fully cooperated with the officers, who confiscated his mobile phones, identity card, and other personal documents. He was then placed in a security minibus and seated between two armed officers carrying AK-47 rifles.

“I was removed from my car and placed in a minibus, seated between two men armed with AK-47 rifles,” Lam testified.

He was taken to the NSS headquarters, commonly known as the “Blue House.”

Lam also claimed that one officer attempted to blindfold him during the journey, but another officer stopped it.Presiding Judge James Alala Deng adjourned the proceedings until Wednesday, June 17, when Lam is expected to continue presenting his defence.

Lam is one of eight defendants facing serious charges including treason, crimes against humanity, murder, terrorism, and destruction of property in connection with the March 2025 attack on an SSPDF base in Nasir County, Upper Nile State.

The other accused persons are suspended First Vice President Riek Machar (who remains under house arrest), Puot Kang Chuol, Mam Pal Dhuor, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Camilo Gatmai Kel, Mading Yak Riek, and Dominic Gatgok Riek.

The rest are detained by the NSS.

Prosecutors allege that forces allied to SPLA-IO and the White Army militia killed 257 SSPDF soldiers, including commander David Majur Dak, and destroyed or seized military equipment worth approximately $58 million during the attack.

All the defendants have denied the charges.