The National Security officials are in the process of taking to court the Editor-in-Chief of the Juba Monitor newspaper, according to the Union of Journalists in South Sudan.

Mr Alfred Taban was arrested and detained in Juba about a week ago after he wrote an article criticizing the leadership of the transitional government.

The chairperson of the union, Oliver Modi, says security officials told him in a meeting held on Thursday that a police case was being opened against Mr Alfred Taban.

But he said the officials didn’t reveal when to start the process.

“Our response is that: ‘Yes. this is our concern and this is our stand that, if there is anything about Alfred Taban’s opinion [he] wrote on 15th and 16^th, he has to face the court’,” Mr Modi said.

The union also has demanded the release of Mr Taban due to his health condition and age.

However, a national security officer told Eye Radio this week that Mr Taban was being kept in good condition, with access to his family members.

Mr Modi also confirmed that the family of has been given access to visit the journalist daily.

Many regional and international press freedom defenders and human rights groups, including Amnesty International have called for release or arraignment of Mr Taban.