The
Swaziland Chief Justice (CJ) Michael Ramodibedi, who has been holed up in his
house for more than two weeks, resisting arrest on abuse of power charges has asked for a free passage to
the South African border so he can escape all charges made against him.
The
demand is one of five Ramodibedi is reported to have made to bring an end to
the stand-off. In all cases Ramodibedi is allowed to escape charges and a court
appearance.
The Observer Sunday, a newspaper in effect owned by Swaziland’s absolute monarch King
Mswati III, reported (3 May 2015), ‘A prominent member of society who is close
to traditional authorities as well as the top government hierarchy and is
intimate with the situation around the stand-off revealed the cards that the CJ
has put to the table and now awaits government’s move.’
The
demands are:
1. Ramodibedi
is allowed to meet with King Mswati. The King, as absolute monarch, can make
any decisions he wishes. He appointed Ramodibedi to the position and it is his
decision, notwithstanding anything a court might decide, whether Ramodibedi
should be punished. Ramodibedi reportedly believes the King did not give
permission for him to be arrested.
2. Ramodibedi
will agree to step down as CJ if the impeachment
process being pursued by government is set aside. He reportedly wants a
consensus that his relationship with government has broken down to irreparable
levels and therefore all parties should go their separate routes.
3. Ramodibedi,
who is a Lesotho citizen, says he has a diplomatic passport and he is entitled
to diplomatic immunity and therefore he is not subjected to lawsuits or
prosecution under the laws of Swaziland. The only way for him to be brought
before the law would be if Lesotho revoked his diplomatic status.
4. Ramodibedi
still considers himself to be the Swazi Chief Justice and none of the processes
that are provided in the constitution relating to the removal of a CJ have been
implemented. The King is the only person who removes the CJ on the advice of
the Judicial Service Commission (CSJ). Ramodibedi is head of the CSJ.
5 Ramodibedi
has reportedly given the government the option of allowing him to leave his
home and drive directly to the Ngwenya border post with South Africa. Swazi
police would not have the powers to arrest him in South Africa.
See also
SWAZI
CJ: ‘IMPEACHMENT CHARGES MADE’
ARREST
WARRANT FOR CHIEF JUSTICE
CJ
HAS HISTORY OF ABUSE OF POWER
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2015/04/cj-has-history-of-abuse-of-power.html
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