Africa-Press – Eswatini. Kareem Ashraff, the influential, powerful and politically connected businessman of Indonesian origin, is allegedly influencing some members of the Judicial Service Commission(JSC) to oust Lomvula Hlophe, the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP).
The JSC moved quickly and commenced the recruitment of a permanent DPP after Hlophe applied for a warrant of arrest against Ashraff who stands accused of stealing billions of public funds, resulting in the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
But the arrest was stopped last week by Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala, an alleged close friend of the Swazipharm Director who claimed the Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) failed to produce enough evidence.
Judges hold exclusive powers to decide whether the evidence is sufficient or not, there’s no known specific limit used to determine the sufficiency of evidence but a mere opinion of a Judge in this regard is final.
Lawyer Sibusiso Nhlabatsi previously told this publication that, the ACC must be allowed to work independently and/or without any political interference, the ACC works with the Office of the DPP among others law enforcement agencies.
“The ACC is independent in terms of the Prevention of Corruption Act and therefore, it must be allowed to work without political interference,” said the lawyer.
Efforts to reach the Chairman of the JSC Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Lomvula Hlophe was reached but she asked not to comment.
It has been disclosed that, the Chief Justice influenced the JSC to quickly commence the recruitment shortly after the ACC in collaboration with the DPP’s Office applied for a warrant of arrest against Kareem Ashraff.
The JSC is likely to employ a DPP who is a loyal to the CJ and Ashraff however, some sources with the Judicial Service Commission denied the allegations of alleged interference saying the process will be fair and that, the “current DPP will be confirmed after passing interviews or rejected if the JSC is not convinced that she is capable of holding the position permanently”.
On another note, the JSC will soon employ a new ACC Commissioner and this means, if not confirmed to their respective positions, the Acting DPP Lomvula Hlophe and Acting ACC Commissioner Maphevu Mkhatjwa who tried to arrest Swazipharm Director Ashraff will be automatically removed and replaced possibly, by individuals loyal to the Chief Justice and Ashraff.
The Swazipharm Director avoided questions from this publication, he has been evasive since the health crisis scandal erupted.
Reached for comments, Wandile Dludlu, the Deputy President of the People’s United Democratic Movement(PUDEMO) said, the Judiciary under royalty, has always been bought by the “powerful faction” of the day thus justice turn to be for sale.
“The Judiciary under royalty has always been bought by the “powerful faction” of the day thus justice turn to be for sale and fighting corruption like one exposed by Funduzi Forensic report becomes dead in water as it is, like many before turn to be exercise in futility,” said the PUDEMO Deputy President.
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