Man beats two children, leaving one dead in hospital

A young man in Logwili boma in Lainya County of Central Equatoria state was arrested on Monday on suspicion of beating two children aged 9 and 6 years old, leaving them unconscious, with one alleged to have passed away at a hospital.

The county crime officer 1st Lieutenant Alhaj David Banja told TCT on telephone that the children were referred to Yei civil hospital but unfortunately they were told that the girl passed away.

“The suspect beat and injured two children, a boy of 9 years old and a girl of 6 years old. They were seriously injured,” he told TCT on Tuesday evening.

“We rushed to the scene of crime, then we referred them to Limbe health unit, then later on, they were referred to Yei civil hospital but unfortunately, we got information that the female passed away,” he added.

He said the suspect is under police custody and investigations are going on. The officer said sources on the ground claimed the suspect was addicted to drugs, especially marijuana and marungi.

He added that local residents claimed the suspect has some mental problems resulting from drug abuse.

The suspect was found committing the crime using a pipe bar to beat the children, he said.

First Lieutenant Alahaj called on parents to immediately report cases of drug abuse to the authority so that perpetrators can face justice.

TCT could not reach health authorities to find out the state of the victims and whether one of the children died due to the beatings.

Data John Losukwa, the South Sudan legal aid officer in Yei said it is treated as “criminal case” under article 206 of South Sudan Penal Code 2008.

“It is treated as criminal case if it is a murder,” he said on phone.

He urged parents to be responsible of their children and protect them from harm and other abuses.

According to article 17, section (a) of South Sudan Transitional Constitution 2011, every child has the right to life, survival and development while section (d) of the same article says a child is not to be subjected to exploitative practices or abuse.