The expulsion of judges involved in acts of corruption and illicit charges is causing concern among legal experts, who warn of the negative impact of these scandals on the image of the judiciary and on citizens’ trust in the Mozambican judicial system.
Lawyers Esmeraldo Matavele and Alberto Langa believe that the recent cases of expulsion of judges for breaking the law, decided by the Superior Council of the Judiciary, are a stain on the entire profession and worsen the public perception of discredit towards the courts.
‘The population will be absolutely right to criticise us, they will be absolutely right to lose confidence in the courts. But we, as the judiciary, must prove the opposite to the citizen,’ said Esmeraldo Matavele, president of the Mozambican Association of Judges.
The lawyer acknowledges that the context of socio-economic vulnerability in which many magistrates work may make them more susceptible to corrupt practices, stressing, however, that this reality does not justify misconduct.
Alberto Langa, meanwhile, warns of the risk of discrediting the justice system, pointing out that the involvement of judges in illegal acts undermines citizens’ trust and encourages them to take the law into their own hands.
‘There is a growing trend towards discrediting the justice system. We are witnessing a phenomenon in which people have less and less faith in institutional justice and choose to resolve their conflicts by their own means. It is a bucket of cold water for the entire justice system,’ Langa lamented.
The expelled judges are linked to three separate cases: the controversial trial of the export of boer beans from the port of Nacala; the conviction of a minor without prior verification of his age in Nampula; and the improper collection of fees to release a citizen, also in Nampula.
The cases are being examined individually, and although the Superior Council of the Judiciary has decided on disciplinary measures, proceedings are still ongoing to determine full responsibility. The Mozambican Association of Judges has called for the presumption of innocence, stressing that the facts must be properly proven before any final judgement is made.
Source: O País
