As suspended DCEO boss says he is being targeted for wanting to expose the Premier’s corrupt ways
Mohloai Mpesi
Suspended Director-General of the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offenses Advocate Mahlomola Manyokole, says the notorious move to have him removed from the anti-corruption body by his principal and Minister of Law and Justice Professor Nqosa Mahao is but a fade to cast the spotlight on him and not on the real issue-the Premier’s corruption charges.
Manyokole told this publication that Prime Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro alongside Mahao-with whom they have been embroiled in an apparent turf tiff-are actually running away from being impeached for acts of corruption and abuse of power.
Last week Thursday, Manyokole was slapped with a suspension letter signed by Majoro ousting him from office forthwith, while he was first asked to appear before a tribunal last month. He has now been replaced by the Acting Director General Sefako Seema.
He pointed out that the corruption charge against the premier is, as matter of procedure now on the desk of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for assessment prior due prosecution.
My suspension is not fair because it is clear that they want to harbour their criminal activities. The Prime Minister doesn’t want to face his criminal activities. I have a case of tender corruption against him.
He also has to face the abuse of power and corruption charges committed when he was Minister of Finance. He is trying to run away from his deeds that’s why he hurried to see me suspended from the office even though I have a case in court challenging their action, he said.
There is also a case which he faces regarding Victoria Hotel when he was a Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. So they are trying to run away from their action that’s why they want to see me out of office.
The case is now in front of DPP. While for Mahao, he wants control me and my sin is refusing to let him. There are many other things that I have found about them, he said.
Meanwhile, in the letter to Manyokole which was penned last week, Majoro says he has heeded Mahao’s recommendation for his suspension.
Suspension of Director of Directorate on Corruption and Economic Offenses from duty in terms of Section 4 (6) of the Prevention of Corruption and Economic Offences Act no. 5 of 1999 as amended.
I am in receipt of the advice of Minister of Justice and Law recommending your suspension from duty following the establishment of a tribunal in terms of legal notice No. 139 of 2020. I have thoroughly applied my mind to the recommendations and gave due considerations to the competing interests involved and found it prudent to act as I hereby do, he said.
Acting pursuant to the provisions of section 4 (6) of prevention of corruption and economic offences act No.5 of 1999 (as amended) – I am suspending you with full pay and benefits forthwith.
This suspension shall be operational until such time when the question of your fitness to hold office or otherwise has been investigated and concluded by the aforementioned tribunal. Upon receipt of this letter, you must submit all the property of the Directorate in your possession-be it, keys of any other material in your possession which is necessary for the smooth transition of your suspension to your immediate junior, the letter reads.
During this period of suspension, you shall not attend your place of work, other than for the purpose of assisting in the investigation into your conduct by the tribunal. Please, therefore, remain available to meet with any of the persons assigned to investigate this matter. You shall not contact any other employee of the Directorate during this period of suspension, he said.
In the same vein, Advocates Christopher Lephuthing and Monaheng Rasekoai representing Mahao and Majoro told the High Court yesterday stated that Manyokole was supposed to obey the directive of the premier which was summoning him before a tribunal for fitness test of holding office.
The Prime Minister has the powers to establish the commission of enquiry and tribunal to investigate the fitness of the DCEO- DG, and now here is a lawyer asked to come before a tribunal who decided to run to court.
This is what is happening in this country, you allow a tribunal to proceed then you a get report, and then from the basis of the report you come to court to complain. You don’t skip the processes by coming to court to prevent the implementation of the decision of the Prime Minister, he said
The case before Justice Moroke Mokhesi, is one in which Manyokole challenges Mahao’s intent to have a tribunal set up to question his fitness as procedural precursor to have him removed from the anti-corruption body.
He is represented by Advocate Tekane Maqakachane.
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