The International Secretariat of the World Organisation...

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) received information from the Sudanese Victims of Torture Group (SVTG), a member of the OMCT network, that on 24 January 2002, a sentence of amputation of the right hand was executed on Anthony James Ladou Wani, a 46 year old Christian belonging to the KaKwa tribe from Southern Sudan.
Anthony was accused of stealing spare car parts and was convicted of theft under Article 171 of the 1991 Penal Code. The provision states that whoever commits theft may be sentenced with amputation of the right hand if the value of the stolen item is equal to or more than the value of 4.25 grams of gold.
Anthony was sentenced to amputation of his right hand from the wrist on 4 May 2000 and has been detained in Kober prison in Khartoum since that date. He had no legal representation at his initial trial, as he was unable to pay for it himself. It has been alleged that Anthony did not receive a fair trial, that there was not enough evidence to convict him and that the usual judicial procedures were not followed properly. An appeal has been rejected by the highest court with jurisdiction on this matter.
OMCT and SVTG are gravely concerned that the Government of Sudan has once again resumed the punishment of amputation and that it is beginning systematically to execute sentences of amputation given in 2000 and 2001.
This punishment is against the Government of Sudan's international obligations, with regards to Article 5 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, against torture and cruel and inhuman punishment.