South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Jenifer James
The long-running court case involving the UAP National Staff Association and UAP Insurance Company has been delayed once again after the presiding judge adjourned the ruling, citing an incomplete review of the case file.
The defense lawyer for the UAP National Staff Association expressed frustration over these repeated delays.
Speaking to the media after the session on Friday, Marko Reech, the defense lawyer representing the dismissed UAP staff, stated that the case, which was scheduled for a ruling on August 29, was initially handled by a different judge who has since been transferred.
“The new judge informed the parties that he had not yet finished reviewing the file and therefore adjourned the matter to September 1,” Reech said, expressing his frustration over the ongoing delays.
“We have been waiting since August 20 for this ruling. The previous judge, who was well-acquainted with the case, was transferred, and now we are forced to start again with a new judge,” Reech told reporters outside the court.
He added that the uncertainty surrounding the case has raised concerns about the fairness of the outcome.
“The judge who handled the file from the beginning was more competent to make the final judgment. We cannot predict whether the ruling will be fair, but we can only hope that the new judge will carefully review the records,” he said.
The plaintiffs also voiced fears regarding UAP Insurance’s ongoing closure of offices in South Sudan.
“Our biggest concern is that UAP is shutting down. Most of their offices are already closed, and only the management office is still operating. We don’t know if they will leave today, tomorrow, or at any time soon,” he added.
The next court session is scheduled for September 1, when the judge is expected to announce whether the file is complete and deliver a ruling.
The case stems from a strike held in September last year by 57 national staff members of UAP Insurance. The employees protested what they described as an unfair working environment. In response, UAP dismissed the leaders of the National Staff Association, prompting legal action from the affected workers.
Following the terminations, the Ministry of Labour intervened, directing UAP to reinstate the dismissed employees and implement salary increases. However, according to the plaintiffs, UAP has not complied with these directives.
