The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) yesterday maintained the recruitment process of a new prosecutor general was not tainted as alleged.
In a statement, judiciary spokesperson Ockert Jansen said the JSC rejects the unfounded allegations and remains on course to perform its constitutional mandate.
“The JSC has previously explained why it decided not to hold public hearings for the appointment of the next prosecutor general. It is unnecessary therefore to reply once more to the many questions from the media raising the same issues,” reads the statement.
According to the JSC, the public have the right to express opinions and to criticise public institutions, but allegations of criminal conduct against a constitutional body, doing its best to execute an important constitutional mandate, must be grounded in fact.
On the issue of the 15 years post-admission requirement, the JSC said they considered the views expressed before reviewing the matter.
“For that reason, the JSC after a thorough consideration and in good faith, reduced the 15 to 10 years the post-admission experience requirement,” he said.
Last week the JSC announced it had shortlisted incumbent Martha Imalwa, who has been in charge of the prosecutor general’s office for the last 16 years, former magistrate Ruth Herunga and former deputy prosecutor general Taswald July to contest for the position.
The JSC also ruled out calls to consider having public interviews for the position.
This announcement resulted in the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement questioning the process by claiming it was “corrupt”.
The pressure group called on the JSC to embark on a consultative process on the process and requirements for a prosecutor general and that the new process embarked upon be entirely transparent.
The AR also insisted the interviews should be conducted in public.
– mamakali@nepc.com.na
Defensive… Judiciary spokesperson Ockert Jansen.