Untrained investigators accused of mishandling GBV cases, allowing bail

2026-03-29 - 11:54

A legal adviser at the Gender-Based Violence One Stop Center located at the Juba Teaching Hospital has accused untrained police investigators of altering crime descriptions to allow accused individuals to be released on bail. Speaking during a stakeholder engagement session on draft legislation, Advocate Christina Yacob alleged that some police investigators are mishandling cases for financial gain. “We have a big problem with our investigators, you know, they’re selling out cases. That I’m experiencing it every day. And if you don’t have money, really your case will not go ahead,” Yacob said. She explained that while some special police units are well-trained to handle gender-based violence (GBV) cases, most cases are assigned to untrained personnel. In stations such as Gudele and Munuki, she says untrained investigators often demand money from survivors’ families and fail to pursue justice effectively. Yacob also highlighted that perpetrators are increasingly being released on bail, with cases sometimes reclassified under sections that create legal loopholes. “The worst thing is they’re releasing the perpetrators. Section 247, which is related to rape, you can bail out the suspect. But they’re releasing those perpetrators based on bail. They’re changing the sections these days...to create open windows for those perpetrators to escape,” she said. Yacob further noted the difficulties in prosecuting men in uniform, including police and military personnel, citing procedural hurdles and immunity provisions. She called for urgent reforms to ensure proper investigations and justice for survivors. “Regarding cases where the perpetrators really are men in uniform, either police, military, or anyone who have power, it is really very hard to continue with it. Because you need to follow many procedures. You need to write to their office, because those people are immune. You cannot just arrest them like this,” Yacob added. Advocate Yacob urged authorities to prioritize training and engagement for investigators to strengthen accountability and protect survivors of gender-based violence. Eye Radio could not independently verify these claims, and efforts to reach the authorities for comment were not immediately successful.