A forensic expert testifying in the high-profile trial of South Sudan’s suspended First Vice President, Riek Machar, faced difficulties in substantiating claims that key financial transactions were linked to the March 2025 attack on an SSPDF garrison in Nasir.
During Monday’s 63rd court session, defense lawyer Dr. Gerry Raimondo Legge pressed South African forensic investigator Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi over inconsistencies in his report, which alleges that the second accused, Mam Pal, financed the White Army during the attack.
Rafadi had earlier presented evidence of multiple transactions, including 123,000 Kenyan shillings sent via M-Pesa, 625,000 Ethiopian birr, and AED 55,050 (approximately $15,000). However, under cross-examination, he acknowledged gaps in linking these transactions directly to Mam Pal.
He admitted that the Ethiopian birr transfer, dated December 24, 2024, involved two Ethiopian nationals and had no established connection to either Mam Pal or any of the accused. Similarly, Rafadi said he could not verify the sender or intended recipient of the AED transaction reportedly received in Dubai, nor confirm whether the funds ever reached Mam Pal.
On the M-Pesa transaction, the expert told the court he could not determine ownership of the Kenyan phone number used, although the receipt had been extracted from Mam Pal’s device.
The defense also challenged claims of a March 1, 2025 meeting allegedly involving Riek Machar, White Army leaders, and SPLA-IO commanders, which prosecutors argue was used to plan the attack. Rafadi said he could not confirm that any orders were issued by Machar.
Presiding Judge Dr. James Alala Deng adjourned the case to Wednesday, April 1, 2026, when the defense is expected to continue its cross-examination.
Rafadi was contracted to analyze electronic devices seized from Machar and his co-accused, producing a report that includes messages, location data, images, and videos that prosecutors claim point to coordination in the Nasir attack.
Riek Machar and seven co-accused are facing serious charges, including murder, terrorism, and treason. Prosecutors allege that the attack resulted in the deaths of 257 SSPDF soldiers and the destruction or capture of military equipment valued at approximately $58 million.
Machar remains under house arrest, while the other defendants are being held in custody by the National Security Service.
