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.
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