The Juba City Council’s (JCC) deputy mayor for infrastructure and development has explained and defended his slapping of a traffic police officer on November 25 in Buluk, Juba.
Thiik Thiik Mayardit declared at a news conference in Juba on Tuesday that he was acting to protect himself and his employer, Juba City Mayor Michael Allajabu. The two were supervising the dismantling of unlawful constructions constructed on road reserves near the traffic police station in Buluk.
“A traffic cop approached us as we were opening the road, and I requested him to stop, and he questioned who I was to stop him.” He continued approaching us, and the mayor begged him to stop, but he questioned who the mayor was to stop him,” he said.
“He continued heading towards the mayor, and when I asked him what was wrong with him, he approached me with the intention of fighting me.” I smacked him at that point. He came to a halt after the smack.”
Following the event, Major General Kon John Akot, Director General of the Traffic Police, wrote to the Justice Ministry asking permission to charge Deputy Mayor Thiik.
“The administration of the South Sudan National Traffic Police is writing to you to urge that you start a case against the above-mentioned individual.” “Your customary cooperation and approbation are much appreciated,” read part of Gen. Akot’s letter.
However, Thiik claims that the ‘assaulted’ traffic cop contacted him in the evening, apologized, and was given his sidearm back.
“Around 4 p.m., he (the cop) returned and apologized, and I forgave him and handed him his weapon,” Thiik said.
When he wrote to the justice minister to charge him (Thiik) for attacking the police officer, the deputy mayor chastised the traffic police chief for failing to follow proper processes.
“He (Gen. Akot) does not know his supervisor, and he cannot write to the Ministry of Justice directly.” He should have written to his supervisor, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) for Traffic.
“His employer would have written to the IGP, who would have written to the interior ministry, who would then have written to the justice minister,” he continued. “In that regard, the minister of the interior is not accountable to me; the only person accountable to me is the governor of Central Equatoria.”
Thiik said that he is prepared to face the law if the issue gets to court.
“I am fully prepared to come before the court because I have no fear in the subject, and I have already talked to the justice minister, who returned the letter to the interior ministry since it was not procedural,” he concluded.
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