The Industrial Relations Court (IRC) deputy chairperson Anthony Kapaswiche has granted the Attorney General (AG) and Salima Sugar Company Limited (SSCL) an order of stay of execution pending appeal in a case where a dismissed employee wants the company’s senior managers imprisoned for contempt of court.
The former employee, Osman Kapida who until his dismissal was the company’s security manager, commenced contempt of court proceedings against chairman Wester Kosamu, company secretary Charles Thupi and head of finance Jimmy Kanyangala.
This was after the same court ruled that Kapida’s dismisal was unlawful.
However, SSCL prevented his return to work, citing the need to get a briefing on the case from the company’s counsel.
Kapaswiche has since ordered the parties to proceed to file minutes for pre-hearing conference as the record showed that the parties were already directed to hold pre-hearing conference within 14 days from the 9th day of April, 2025.
Kapida, who was accused of negligent discharge of duties, incompetence and serious misconduct was fired by Kosamu, acting as Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in February this year.
However, Kapaswiche ruled that Wester Kosamu’s position of Executive Chairman does not exist at SSCL.
