Justice Walia to make a ruling on his recusal

 Justice Singh Walia
Justice Singh Walia

Gaborone High Court Judge, Justice Singh Walia, will today make a ruling on whether to recuse himself from a case that he was accused of pre-judging.

Attorney Friday Leburu on Friday asked the judge to recuse himself in the matter that state is prosecuting his client Patrick Chirunga, for the murder of the University of Botswana professor early this year.

Leburu had made an urgent application for bail last month, and Justice Walia, who was reported to have never heard the matter, said it was not urgent. After he was reported to Chief Justice Maruping Dibotelo and the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) for pre judging the matter and judicial misconduct, he scheduled the matter for hearing last week Friday. However, the matter was not heard as Leburu moved an application for recusal saying he believed Justice Walia had pre-judged matter without hearing both sides.

Editor's Comment
The people have spoken

In fact, early election results in some areas across the country, speak to large voter turnout which suggests that voters crowded at polling stations to decide appropriately. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) revealed that 80% of the 1,037,684 people who had registered to vote turned up to exercise their right.It’s unfortunate that at the time of cobbling this editorial comment, results had just started trickling in. We recognise that...

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