The abuse of power hearing against Swaziland’s
suspended Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi started and concluded on Tuesday (9 June 2015), even though
he was not present and no defence was heard.
Ramodibedi had asked for
the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) hearing to be postponed
for a third time in two
weeks because he was sick. The hearing at Ezulwini was told he had been taken to the Mbabane Clinic
that morning after suffering dizzy spells.
Members of the JSC
dismissed the request, saying that he had been told the hearing would go ahead
even if he failed to appear. One of the JSC members Musa Dlamini reportedly accused Ramodibedi of deliberately stalling the
proceedings.
Ramodibedi was first issued with a warrant
for his arrest on 17 April 2015. He faced 23 charges but would not
surrender to police, instead preferring self-imposed house arrest for more than
five weeks. These charges were later reduced
to eight and then to three.
1. Abuse of office – In
the allocation of the Swaziland
Revenue Authority (SRA) matter which was heard to hear a case brought by Ramodibedi
against the SRA for taxing his gratuity
to the amount of E128 000 (US$12,800).
2. Abuse of office – In
the hearing of the Impunzi
Wholesalers (PTY) Ltd v The Swaziland Revenue Authority, in which it is
alleged wealthy businessmen offered judges E2 million to help them win their
case against the SRA involving the importation of goods into the kingdom.
3. Abuse of office in
order to achieve an ulterior motive – In the hearing of the Estate
Policy matter, where it is alleged Ramodibedi appointed three acting High
Court judges to hear the case when their terms of office had expired.
The JSC will now report
to King Mswati III, who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute
monarch, before a verdict is issued.
See also
SWAZI CHIEF JUSTICE FIGHTS FOR HIS JOB
JURISTS:
DEEP FLAWS IN JUSTICE SYSTEM
CHIEF
JUSTICE CASE POSTPONED AGAIN
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