LAWYERS MEET ON SUSPENDED JUDGE

The Law Society of Swaziland has called all attorneys in the kingdom to attend an urgent meeting to discuss the suspension of High Court Judge Thomas Masuku.

Simanga Mamba, Secretary of the Law Society, wants all practicing attorneys and those working for private companies to attend the meeting at the Mountain Inn, Mbabane, tomorrow (6 July 2011) at 3pm.

Mamba told the Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, issues to be discussed involve, among others, the suspension of Judge Masuku. Masuku has been suspended indefinitely by Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi and barred from talking to the media.

Masuku faces 12 charges relating to misbehaviour, including allegedly insulting King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, in a judgment.

In a press statement the Law Society said, ‘In acknowledgement of due process, the Law Society does not intend to pre-empt the outcome of the proceedings against Judge Masuku but it is a cause for concern that some of the charges levelled against him emanate from a matter dealt with by the judge in the exercise of judicial power, the independence which is guaranteed under the Constitution.’

See also

JUDGE CANNOT TALK TO MEDIA

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/07/judge-cannot-talk-to-media.html