Community Police in Agok in Abyei Administrative Area have detained a 15-year-old boy for more than a week for attempting to steal. The minor was arrested on 20th February and is until now not charged with any crime.
He says is suffering from hunger and wounds because there is no one taking care of him. The boy says he escaped from the custody after being detained for 8 days but he was pursued and arrested again on Tuesday.
Police say the boy was accused of attempting to steal chairs in Aniet market by a trader. Police investigator, Anur Deng says they are waiting for the accuser to come to police so that his case is taken to public prosecutor.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which has been ratified by 95 UN member states including South Sudan calls for protection of children.
South Sudan’s Child Act, 2008 says:
“Every child has the right to liberty and security of the person, and no child shall be subjected to interference, arrest, detention, deprivation or restriction of his or her liberty except for specified reasons and in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Act and any other applicable law.”
Under the same Act, police are given powers to arrest, without warrant a child who commits or attempts to commit any serious offence.