The police in Western Bahr el Ghazal state say investigations into the theft of the office of the Catholic Bishop of Wau in Western Bahr el Ghazal state have been launched and suspects are in police custody.

On May 9, 2021, thieves broke into the office of the bishop of Wau Catholic Church and made away with USD 20,000, a computer, and a Thuraya phone.

Over the weekend the police arrested five men and two women as prime suspects in the case. They will be arraigned in court for trial.

Major General Samuel Ajuong Chwar, the state police commissioner said, “The investigations are underway and we don’t want to disclose any information because it will affect the investigation process. The crime happened on 9th May and we arrested some but today is the day that we brought the last suspects from Juba.”

He adds, “In front of us now are the criminals, here we have Ernest, Oliver and the rest are in connection to the stealing. For justice, we will take them to the law, if they are free from the crime, they will be released and if they are found guilty, they will face imprisonment.”

Speaking on behalf of the state government, the state cabinet affairs minister Arkanjelo Anyar Anyar Mel hailed the police for the arrests and urged them to leave no stone unturned until justice is served.

“I'm ordering the police and the prosecutor to continue with the investigations and tell us what happened because we want to tell the people that the government has managed,” he added.

Meanwhile, on behalf of the Wau Catholic Diocese, Father Dominic Luka said that the matter is now in the hands of the government and the law should take its course.

“The responsibility is with the government to continue with its work because nobody is above the law and that is why we cannot tell the government not to go ahead,” he said.

The suspects were found in possession of USD 2,000, two laptop computers, an iPhone, and a Thuraya phone.