MBABANE:Chief Justice(CJ) Bheki Maphalala has violated the basic principles of investigation by appointing a team of Judges who are his ‘close friends’ to investigate alleged corruption within the Master of the High Court.
Efforts to seek a comment Charity Simelane,the Secretary General of the Law Society of Swaziland(LSS) proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report,she said she was in court when contacted.
The Master of the High Court is under the Chief Justice’s Office and the Judges report directly to the CJ,Maphalala stopped an independent Parliament investigation that was seeking to investigate the disappearance of public funds and/or alleged looting of eStates with the Master’s Office.
Addressing the media during a press conference on Tuesday the Chief Justice said,the Commission of Inquiry “has been established” after a public outcry during Sibaya.
“I have appointed these Judges to listen to the public outcry in the administration of the Master of the High Court Office and I’m confident that they will work independently”, said the Chief Justice.
The Judges who are closer or alleged puppets of the Chief Justice and has been appointed as members of the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of corruption within the Master of the High Court Office include Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini,Judge Mzwandile Fakudze, Judge Lorraine Hlophe,Judge President of the Industrial Court Sifiso Nsibandze and Judge Maxine LaNgwenya.
On another note, the Judges who were appointed by the Chief Justice to investigate the Master of the High Court, reports directly to him as the Head of the Judiciary.
Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala.