THE Director General of the Directorate and Prevention of Economic Offences (DCEO) Advocate Mahlomola Manyokole has been suspended with immediate effect, the office of the Prime Minister has confirmed.
news
Feb. 26, 2021
STAFF REPORTER
2 min read
DCEO boss suspended
DCEO chief Adv Mahlomola Manyokole
According to a letter written to Manyokole dated February 22, 2021, he has been suspended because he faces criminal charges in the courts of law where he was released on bail.
“I am in receipt of the advice of the Minister of Justice and Law recommending your suspension from duty following the establishment of a tribunal in terms of Legal Notice No.139 of 2020. I author this letter mindful of the order imposed by Justice Moroke Mokhesi in CIV/APN/463/20,” the letter endorsed by Prime Minister Dr Moeketsi Majoro said.
The premier further showed that he has thoroughly applied his mind to the recommendation and gave due consideration to the competing interests involved and found it prudent to act as he did.
The Maseru Magistrate’s Court on Monday also ordered Manyokole’s arrest after he allegedly failed to report himself to the DCEO office to answer money laundering accusations made against him.
He is further alleged to have unlawfully taken some money which had in the custody of the DCEO sometime in January.
“This suspension shall be operational until such time when the question of your fitness to hold office or otherwise has been fully investigated and concluded by the aforementioned tribunal,” Dr Majoro also said.
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He showed that the criminal charges leveled against Manyokole are yet another weighty factor that prompted his suspension, adding that upon receipt of the letter, he must submit all the property of the anti-graft body in his possession, including office keys or any other items.
During this period of suspension, Manyokole is not expected to go anywhere near his place of work, other than for the purpose of assisting in the investigation of his case.
He was ordered to remain available at all times in order to meet any persons assigned to investigate the matter.
He was further instructed not to contact any other employee of the DCEO during that period and to refrain from venturing in any public debates or conduct public interviews about the privileged institutional information of DCEO without express authorisation of the acting head and any such act will prompt disciplinary action against him.
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