AG tactic just a ploy – DCEC
Graft busting agency, the Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC) says the Attorney General’s (AG) tactic not to comply with a court order was just a ploy to stall and frustrate the judicial process.
The DCEC and the AG were before the Lobatse High Court once again as the agency said the AG’s no-show at their offices for the scheduled collection of files at the DCEC for safekeeping at the High Court, was a way to stall the process.
The DCEC took the AG to court for defying the court order of May 9 that indicated that the files should be taken to the High Court for safekeeping and all must be present including the AG, Deputy Sheriff and the police.
According to director-general of DCEC, Tymon Katlholo, following the issuance of the order and all involved served and notified, on the day of collection everyone was present except for the AG.
“My attorneys indicated that on the said date they waited for a period in excess of two hours for representatives from the AG’s office. Unfortunately, the AG representatives never showed up. At around 7.30pm those that assembled, Special Support Group, Deputy Sheriff and my attorneys dispersed as it had become apparent they had no intention to attend to comply with the court order,” he said.
Katlholo explained that all the while they kept in touch with the AG and that after they failed to show up at the sealing and transporting of the said files, they made efforts to contact AG for an explanation and kept saying they will revert which they never did, a clear indication that it was never their intention to comply with the order.
He said as the agency they believe it was in the best interest of the rule of law for the AG, if only they could have facilitated the compliance of the court order.
“It would be sad if the office of the AG is seen or viewed as blatantly refusing or frustrating the execution of a lawfully issued order of the court. We request that the files be deposited to the Office of the Registrar of the Lobatse High Court,” he said.