Times Of Swaziland: MINISTER, 2 JUDGES,REGISTRAR ARRESTED

MINISTER, 2 JUDGES,REGISTRAR ARRESTED
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BY MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE  on 21/04/2015 04:33:00


MBABANE – Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Sibusiso Shongwe has
been arrested along with two judges; Mpendulo Simelane, Jacobus Annandale and
High Court Registrar Fikile Nhlabatsi.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) started their round-up by arresting the
judges around 9am yesterday. Judge Annandale and Judge Simelane were fetched
from their homes, Pine Valley and Manzini, respectively.
The minister has been arrested in connection with the E2 million that was found
in his law firm’s trust account, which he allegedly failed to disclose its
source when requested to do so by ACC investigators.
Judge Annandale has been charged with defeating the ends of justice in that he
rescinded (set aside) the warrant of arrest against the Chief Justice (CJ),
Michael Ramodibedi, on Saturday.
The warrant of the CJ’s apprehension, which Judge Annandale rescinded
allegedly under questionable circumstances, had been issued by High Court
Principal Judge Stanley Maphalala.
Judge Simelane together with the CJ are facing three charges of defeating the
ends of justice, abusing power and conflict of interest.
Ramodibedi has not yet been arrested after locking himself inside his house when
police officers and ACC investigators came to effect the warrant for his
apprehension.
The CJ is said to have allocated his matter against the Swaziland Revenue
Authority (SRA) to Judge Simelane despite knowledge that while he (Simelane) was
a Registrar of the High Court he had engaged SRA on the very same case on behalf
of the CJ. Judge Simelane ordered SRA to pay back E128 000, which the authority
deducted from the CJ’s gratuity.