A/HRC/28/49 National Police Service into the events of December 2013 had been unable to link any police officer to human rights violations. The Inspector General indicated that the police findings had been submitted to the Presidential Committee. 47. On 8 December 2014, in Lakes State, one individual was convicted and sentenced to death by the Rumbek Central High Court for the murder of a paramount chief in Cuei-Chok Payam on 5 August, which sparked intercommunal violence in the state. Four others were acquitted of conspiracy and harbouring the offender in relation to the same incident. Unlike in the large majority of cases in the country, including death penalty cases, the defendants in those cases were represented by legal counsel. 48. While various local media houses reported other developments regarding national accountability measures, UNMISS has not been able to verify those accounts. For example, on 15 October 2014, one newspaper reported that SPLA had court-martialled, sentenced to prison and dismissed three soldiers for “indiscipline” for killing a civilian and a soldier in Juba in early 2014, which UNMISS could not confirm. Similarly, UNMISS was not able to verify a South Sudan television report on 11 October, indicating that the Presidential Committee on Human Rights had carried out additional investigations into human rights violations and abuses committed in Juba in December 2013. UNMISS noted that, even when such investigations involved violations against civilians, SPLA has been reluctant to remit the accused persons to civilian courts, in accordance with national law. 49. UNMISS also engaged with leaders of SPLM/A in Opposition to monitor and advocate accountability. On 24 November 2014, UNMISS human rights officers met with the leadership of SPLM/A in Opposition in Unity State to inquire about allegations of killings of civilians and the abduction of women during the rebel attack on Bentiu on 29 October. The leaders denied targeting civilians and claimed that the women who had reportedly been abducted had been taken to their husbands in opposition-controlled areas. 50. With respect to international accountability measures, UNMISS facilitated field visits by the African Union Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan, including to Bor and Malakal. The Commission of Inquiry finalized its report and presented it to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, who disclosed that the report would be discussed by the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. 51. On 18 September 2014, the Government of the United States of America imposed sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on two military commanders — Major General Santino Deng Wol of the SPLA Third Division, and former Fourth Division commander Major General James Koang Chol, who had defected to SPLM/A in Opposition in December 2013. On 30 October, the Government of Canada also imposed sanctions on SPLM/A in Opposition commander Major General Peter Gadet and the head of the Presidential Guard, Major General Marial Chanuong. IV. Technical assistance 52. In May 2014, the Security Council, by its resolution 2155 (2014), brought an end to the functions of UNMISS that related to supporting the Government of South Sudan in capacity-building, and refocused the Mission’s tasks on four major priorities: the protection of civilians; monitoring and investigating human rights; contributing to the conditions for the delivery of humanitarian assistance; and supporting the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed in January 2014. 53. While focusing on monitoring, investigation, verification and reporting on human rights violations and abuses, UNMISS continued to take action to address violations where possible, including by conducting human rights sensitization with non-State partners, in 12