Former Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater, was released on Wednesday from the National Security Service’s Internal Security Bureau (ISB) Headquarters, commonly known as the Blue House, and placed under house arrest at his residence in Juba.

Dr. Dongrin was arrested in February in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes State, and transferred to Juba.

He was briefly granted compassionate release in early May to attend his daughter’s burial before being returned to custody.

A relative, Malou Mayom, confirmed the development saying the former minister remains under supervision and monitoring at his home in Juba.

“The former minister is under house arrest in Juba, not in Rumbek. The former minister will be kept in his house,” Mayom said.

“House arrest is better compared to Blue House because he will be here with his family and will be able to chat with the people.”

Rumbek-based civil society activist Daniel Laat Kon described the move as a positive step, noting it would allow Dr. Dongrin to console his family following the loss of his daughter.

“This is a good step because we know it will help him to console the family members after he lost his daughter,” Laat said.

“We urge the government to address the cases quickly. It is already an arbitrary detention, which is already a violation of the law.”

Laat criticised the prolonged detention, stating that no formal charges have been filed against Dr. Dongrin and other suspects arrested on allegations of embezzling public funds.

“You cannot detain someone beyond 24 or 72 hours. It would be better for the government to resolve the case and release them,” he added.

“Let them be released and walk freely so that they can start a new life instead of holding them under arbitrary detention or under house arrest.”

He further called on the government to expedite the resolution of similar cases involving other detainees still in custody.