Torit, — -On May 17, 2013 at around 10:00 AM, Maj-Gen William Deng Garang Beny, Director of Prisons Service EES, was ambushed by SPLA forces at Nisito Check Point while returning to his duty station, Torit. The forces acted on the orders of Maj-Gen Marial Chanuong Yol, Commander of Presidential Guards Unit.

According to William Deng, Marial specifically instructed the force under the command of Col. Kuek of Military Intelligence to arrest him and if he refused he would get shot and killed on the spot. Maj-Gen Marial told Col. Kuek and other officers that William Deng had to be arrested because he rebelled against the government of the Republic of South Sudan and that he was joining Yau Yau with a number of soldiers, eleven AKMs and loads of ammunitions.

Deng said that he and his entourage were stopped by firing gun shots at his convoy. He said that his bodyguards wanted to shoot back but he ordered them not to do so because he had no intention of fighting men wearing SPLA uniform. Upon doing so, Marial's men confiscated 12 AKMs, 2 pouches (8 fully loaded magazines).

His bodyguards were also tortured, three of whom are still suffering serious injuries. He added that he was humiliated by stripping off his insignias and was detained for five hours before one colonel Kele from Presidential Guards Unit was sent by Marial to escort the Eastern Equatoria Prisons boss to his office.

On Deng's arrival to Marial's office, the latter disclosed that his main intention of carrying out all these activities was to prevent the prisons officer from taking his wife and children to Torit. In fact the woman in question was an ex-wife of Marial's father-in-law. This, Deng said, means that Marial was abusing his state powers and influences to settle a social issue that had nothing to do with the military or state security.

At the same time the Prisons general was ambushed, Marial sent forces from Presidential Guards Unit to conduct weapons search in the estate where Deng stays as well as the routes he used. Deng regards the weapon search as a cover-up.

"The weapon search was a cover-up." He said. "Marial's true intention of carrying out the weapon search in my estate and along the route I used was to mislead the public, should I get killed by Col Kuek's force, that I was killed while refusing to surrender my weapons." He added.

Deng revealed that the weapon search was illegal since it was not approved by the government and concerned security organs.

As for his part, Maj-General Marial Chanuong Yol, the Presidential Guards Commander who has been accused of attempting to assassinate Maj-General William Deng, is denying those accusations or any involvement whatsoever.

Maj-Gen William Deng Garang Beny together with President Salva Kiir Mayardit left Sudan Army in Malakal on May 26th 1983. He provided security and other services to late Dr. John Garang, President Salva Kiir and other senior officers during the early days of the formation of SPLM/A. He participated in several SPLA combat operations during the SPLA/M civil war.

During the reorganization of organized forces, Deng was taken to South Sudan Prisons Service and is now the Director of Eastern Equatoria Prisons Service stationed in Torit.

Deng hails from the same Boma as late Isaiah Abraham who was assassinated in cold blood in December 2012.