Forensic expert resubmits digital evidence in Machar’s ‘Nasir incident’ trial

JUBA – A South African digital forensic expert on Wednesday resubmitted evidence in the high-profile treason trial of South Sudan’s suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and seven co-defendants, prompting sharp objections from defense lawyers over document authentication.

Machar, 73, has been under house arrest since March 2025. He and his co-accused face charges of treason, murder, and crimes against humanity stemming from the “Nasir incident”—a March 2025 assault by the White Army militia on a government military base in northeastern South Sudan that left more than 250 soldiers dead.

The expert, Ratlhogo Calvin Rafhadi, resubmitted a digital forensic report covering the eight accused.

The prosecution exhibits included mutual legal assistance requests between the justice ministries of South Sudan and South Africa, as well as diplomatic correspondence regarding the transport of evidence via diplomatic bag and the hiring of private forensic services.

Rafhadi’s involvement comes amid circulating claims that he is currently wanted by his own government in Pretoria on domestic cybercrime charges, adding a layer of controversy to his testimony before the Juba tribunal.

Defense attorneys objected to the admissibility of the resubmitted documents, pointing to chronological and procedural discrepancies.

They argued that a signature authentication certificate issued by the Registrar of the High Court in Pretoria was dated Sept. 2, 2025—just two days after the Special Court was established in Juba.

The defense also contended that the forensic documents lacked the required authentication from the South African Embassy in Juba.

Other resubmitted exhibits included authentication certificates issued in September 2025 by a South African notary public, the South African Department of International Relations, the South Sudan Embassy in Pretoria, and the South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Juba.

The three-judge panel adjourned the session until Friday, Feb. 27, when the prosecution is anticipated to respond to the defense’s objections.