South Sudan's Court of Appeal has directed that four Kenyans and 12 other foreigners who had been jailed for life over the theft of Sh1.4 billion be re-tried.
The money is said to have been stolen from the office of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
The court also directed that the accused persons remain at Juba Central Prison during the trial period.
The 16 are said to have engaged in forgery, fraud, conspiracy to defraud the government, money laundering and terrorism financing among other charges.
The acts, according to prosecution, resulted to the loss of Sh1.4 billion from Kiir's office.
In March, families of the four Kenyans held a vigil in Nairobi demanding for their release.
The vigil was staged outside Intercontinental Hotel where President Kiir resided ahead of the Heads of States Summit in Nairobi.
The 16 were jailed in June 2016.
Among those thrown to the coolers include former Chief Administrator in the office of the president, Mayen Wol, former Executive Director in the president's office, Yel Luol and National Security Officer, John Agou.
Some of them are president Kiir's relatives media reports from Africa's youngest nation say.
[South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit. The court also directed that the accused persons remain at Juba Central Prison during the trial period.] alchetron.com