Former Rockport resident Elton “Mark” McCabe has apparently been freed from a South Sudan prison and must go through a final hearing before returning to the United States.In a Nov. 29 email to The Rockport Pilot, Cheryl Casterline, McCabe’s cousin, posted a Facebook post from Anne Bennett McCabe announcing her husband has been freed from a South Sudan prison.The posting announced U.S. Senator David Vitter’s office had called and reported all charges against McCabe had been dropped and her husband is released and safe in the U.S. Embassy.From the family home in Slidell, LA Anne McCabe said, “He is free, all charges have been dropped, and he is safe.”
A email from Voice of America News to Casterline (Nov. 29, 7:29 a.m) stated, “McCabe and Mohamed appeared in court today. The Attorney General intervened today. He told the judge that he wanted to use his constitutional powers to stop the case. Apparently there will be another hearing on Dec. 6, when the Attorney General will bring a letter from the Ministry of Justice stopping the case. If this happens, that will be the last appearance in court.”“We are all very happy,” said Casterline. “He is free and he is in a secure place.”McCabe, 52, had been working in South Sudan as a construction contractor and was held by South Sudan authorities since Oct. 14. He and his family live in Slidell, LA.A letter, dated Nov. 2 from the United States Department of State to Anne McCabe said, “On Sunday Oct. 14, your husband was arrested by South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) along with an Iraqi national. We note the NSS has no arrest or detention authority under South Sudanese law except in those extraordinary cases, which impact national security. We also know Mr. McCabe was denied his legal right to be seen by a magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest as stipulated in South Sudanese statute.”The U.S. State Department was notified of McCabe’s arrest Oct. 18 when the Kenyan Ambassador to South Sudan contacted U.S. Ambassador Susan Paige. During an Oct. 18 meeting with Internal Security Director General Akol Koor Kuc, Paige was told McCabe was accused of extortion and kidnapping with the intent to murder. No formal charges were filed.Paige and a consular officer delivered a formal protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Oct. 25. McCabe was transferred to police custody Oct. 29 and transferred to Juba Prison Oct. 30. On Nov. 1 embassy officers were informed McCabe was to be released, however NSS officers picked up McCabe and the Iraqi man (Mohamed) after their release and returned them to prison.
According to Anne McCabe her husband lost 25 to 30 pounds during his incarceration. “I am trying to get mentally prepared to see him when he gets off the plane,” she said.
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of rockportpilot.com.
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site.
Newer articles:
- South Sudan official in Khartoum - gulfnews.com - 02/12/2012 05:11
- Special Report: Why some new countries are more equal than others - Reuters UK - 02/12/2012 02:09
- Slidell man's charges dropped by South Sudan judge - News Banner - 01/12/2012 11:33
- Cecafa: Uganda 4 South Sudan 0Publish Date: Nov 30, 2012 - New Vision - 01/12/2012 03:58
- Why rushing South Sudan into the EAC is a reckless idea - New Sudan Vision - 01/12/2012 02:15
Older news items
- Chinese political advisor meets South Sudan delegation - People's Daily Online - 29/11/2012 19:48
- South Sudan judge dismisses charges against Slidell businessman - NOLA.com - 29/11/2012 15:24
- Lack of trust slows Sudan-South Sudan deals: US envoy - AFP - 29/11/2012 10:50
- Humanitarian appeal for South Sudan tops one billion - Examiner.com - 28/11/2012 20:40
- Pending issues between Sudan and South Sudan having negative security ... - UN News Centre - 28/11/2012 13:44
Latest news items (all categories):
- Ramaphosa presses Kiir to implement peace deal ahead of South Sudan’s first elections - 09/10/2026 12:19
- South Sudan steps up Ebola alert after Kenya case - 09/10/2026 12:17
- Laotian man deported by U.S. to South Sudan leaves for Laos after year in detention - 09/10/2026 12:14
- Bullet and blast injuries … and a constant need for blood: inside South Sudan’s overwhelmed trauma wards - 09/10/2026 12:10
- MTN South Sudan and Regulator Pledge Cooperation to Expand Connectivity - 09/10/2026 12:01
Random articles (all categories):
- The Stateless Sudanese - Victims of Tajility - AllAfrica.com - 09/04/2012 12:00
- Sudan reshuffles cabinet, replacing oil and foreign ministers - 15/05/2018 00:14
- South Sudan clarifies that restoration of relations with SADR does not negate bilateral ties with Rabat - 23/09/2022 06:50
- Salva Kiir: Fighting Must Stop to Avert South Sudan Famine Disaster - 19/05/2014 14:49
- South Sudan: UN working to mitigate risks of rainy season - 12/03/2014 05:43
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 150840 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 28206 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 25313 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24539 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22502 times
