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MINISTER, 2 JUDGES,REGISTRAR ARRESTED

21/04/2015 04:33:00 BY MBONGISENI NDZIMANDZE

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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Judge Annandale has been charged with defeating the ends of justice in that he rescinded (set aside) the warrant of arrest against the Chief Justice (CJ), Michael Ramodibedi, on Saturday.

The warrant of the CJ’s apprehension, which Judge Annandale rescinded allegedly under questionable circumstances, had been issued by High Court Principal Judge Stanley Maphalala.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.

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Comments (11 posted):

MT on 21/04/2015 05:18:13

A big story. All you could cover is 3 paragraph. Poor!

Saneele Mayer on 21/04/2015 06:19:27

hhawu shwele bawo iyooo

Xolani Simphiwe Mkhatshwa on 21/04/2015 07:40:56

We're now feeling the taste of the king's vision (2022)

Mpho on 21/04/2015 09:08:24

A very good start to start with the high profile.But don't hold your breath yet.
This justice in action but unfortunately this is still in Africa.We are all watching with interest.
Please continue watching this space,then you tell me!

Molete on 21/04/2015 12:20:13

When are you hanging them???

Patricia Ntombela on 21/04/2015 12:50:50

Iyooh! kusindza kuyehlela. whom are were going to trust if respectable people are not honest. Sisite Jehova nge corruption.

Nkonyane on 21/04/2015 14:57:13

Bravo to the PM's government, its a major break through in an attempt to restore the rule of law. These mafias have made a mockery of SD justice system many times, and that would result in serious repurcation in our ailing economy. Thanks to the existence of people with moral like Banabars, he has been an iron, a real hard rock to crack. Sibusiso (Shongwe), Mpendulo, and Ramodibedi can you guys feel the test of your own medicine. I wish you guys join Bheki and Thulani who you punished for no reason, but at least you committed a string crimes. you are a disgrace to the legal frateinity, you managed to turn Swazi courts circus houses.

Manje on 21/04/2015 15:30:49

I congratulate gov't for acting quickly on our judiciary which was already in the gutters. Most Swazis have suffered in the hands of our courts of injustice yet that's where they're supposed to get justice. We don't need kangaroo courts when we go to the 1st world. Corruption especially of the law is in high places and I feel we must support gov't for finally realizing that. But we must pray for the families of those people who've been arrested because they are victims like all of us. As for the arrested ones, they're innocent until proven guilty by an INDEPENDENT court of law.

Majaha Manana on 21/04/2015 15:40:18

Um'tsetfo wabo bonkhe bantfu & sandla sem'tsetfo sidzef

FIRE BY FORCE on 21/04/2015 16:46:58

itawuphuma i answer,,,thank you ACC