DIS targets Judge Moroka
Oarabile Mosikare | Friday October 20, 2017 18:00
The DIS and AG were apparently sent to Francistown to look into Moroka’s hotel stay after his transfer. It is alleged that the Administration of Justice (AoJ) said Moroka committed a crime for staying more than 14 days and that he was entertaining family. “Three DIS agents interviewed Moroka,” a source close the matter disclosed.
Moroka, who is handling the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) case, was transferred to Francistown High Court in 2014.
“He was accommodated at Thapama Hotel and was accommodated there because there was no suitable accommodation for him as the Judge’s house he was to stay at was being renovated. He stayed at the hotel for a year,” said another worried source at the AoJ.
Moroka is yet to be charged, but “they said he ought to have known that he couldn’t stay more than 14 days in a hotel according to the General Orders. We don’t know why DIS is involved. Probably abuse of a state organ. He believes that he did nothing wrong and that everything was authorised from head office”.
Another high-ranking AoJ official quipped that they are going through very difficult times. “The attempt to destroy our careers is gaining new heights. I am aware that a team of investigators has been dispatched to Francistown High Court to investigate Moroka’s stay in the hotel upon his transfer to Francistown High Court from Lobatse in April 2014,” the official said. The Judges’ Conditions of Service require that a Judge be provided with furnished accommodation. In its absence, the AoJ has over the years housed judges in hotels pending finding suitable accommodation, the official said.
Some Judges have stayed in hotels for periods running from six months to two years. In Francistown for instance, Justice Monametsi Gaongalelwe stayed in a hotel from February 2004 to February 2005. Justices Moses Chinhengo, Singh Walia and Thomas Masuku were also accommodated in hotel facilities for the same period. Recently Judges Bengbame Sechele, Bashi Moesi and Gaolapelwe Ketlogetswe were booked in hotels pending suitable accommodation.
“All hotel bills were paid for by the state. In what is a clear switching, there is a sudden investigation as to why Justice Moroka stayed in a hotel for one year. We await the report from the investigators with keen interest. Over and above that, Moroka has been put in continuous surveillance by the DIS. His phone conversations are being monitored and so are his movements,” alleged a source.
Justice Moroka however declined to comment on the developments, suffice to say, “If that is what is happening I trust in God and that no weapons formed against me shall prosper”.
For his part Director General of the DIS Isaac Kgosi denied it was his team that interrogated Moroka on Monday. The Auditor General, Pulane Letebele also distanced her office from the probe. “I don’t have that information. To the best of my knowledge, I don’t know about that issue,” Letebele said.
The Registrar and Master of High Court, Michael Motlhabi could not be reached for comment as he was said to be in endless meetings.