Court adjourns hearings over ‘lack of fuel’ to transport suspects

JUBA – The South Sudan judiciary has suspended slated hearing sessions for inmates due to what it called lack of fuel to transport prisoners to the venue.

This comes after the judiciary adjourned several sessions as the government failed to provide fuel for the vehicles.

Reliable sources who spoke to Sudans Post anonymously said that juries have been complaining over fuel shortage for their vehicles for three days.

“We still adjourn these cases because there is no fuel in the car that will be used to transport inmates to the court. I am not certain when there will be fuel,” a source who spoke to Sudans Post said anonymously.

South Sudan’s main export is oil. But ironically, the country occasionally experiences biting fuel shortage which sometimes affect prices of commodities in the market.

In a surprising twist of events, critical government institutions such as the judiciary, have not been spared.

Sudans Post also learned that several court cases which should have their verdicts passed are still pending without a fixed hearing date.

Chief Justice Chan Reec Madut could not be reached for comments as his office manager claimed a busy schedule.

Vehicles donated

In February this year, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) donated 14 Hino Trucks and 7 land cruisers to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.

After handing over the vehicles, Samuel Doe, UNDP Residence Representative in South Sudan said the trucks were a contribution from the UN organization to support the government in delivering justice.

“The opportunity and equipment to convey inmates from prison to courts was a major challenge and we needed to contribute and support the government in addressing that challenge.”

At the same occasion, Chief Justice Chan Reec said the trucks would support the work of justice in the ten states and three administrative areas.

“All 10 states in South Sudan will have these trucks to support the movement of inmates and in 3 administrative areas,” he said at the time.

It was unclear how the government would facilitate the logistical arrangements such as fuel supply to operate the vehicle.