Probe Choudry, says judicial commission
Aug 03, 2009
THE Judicial Service Commission has asked President Yoweri Museveni to set up a tribunal to probe the alleged misconduct of the embattled High Court judge, Anup Singh Choudry.
By Charles Ariko and Anne Mugisa
THE Judicial Service Commission has asked President Yoweri Museveni to set up a tribunal to probe the alleged misconduct of the embattled High Court judge, Anup Singh Choudry.
Choudry, who was recently relocated to the War Crimes Court from the Commercial Court, has been under investigation by the commission.
Investigations against Choudry followed allegations of misconduct when he worked as a solicitor in the UK before being appointed judge in Uganda last year.
Sources close to the commission yesterday told The New Vision that the recommendation to have a tribunal set up was contained in a report submitted to the President after the commission concluded its investigations.
The source added that instituting a tribunal would necessitate the appointment of foreign judges.
“It is an expensive exercise, but given the circumstances, the commission sees it as the only way out,†the source added.
The allegations against Choudry surfaced last year when the Uganda Law Society received information that he had been struck off the list of solicitors in the UK in 2000 over fraudulent dealings.
About three months ago, the judge clashed with some lawyers, who had asked him to disqualify himself until his name was cleared.
The lawyers challenged Choudry’s integrity and insisted that he had no moral ground to preside over cases.
The lawyers also threatened to boycott Choudry’s court.
Earlier, the law society had petitioned the commission to rescind Choudry’s appointment as judge in light of the revelations against him.
Following the court clash, Choudry did not preside over any case at the Commercial Court until his recent transfer to the War Crimes Court.
However, the War Crimes Court has not yet been established because the law under which it is supposed to operate is still in Parliament.
THE Judicial Service Commission has asked President Yoweri Museveni to set up a tribunal to probe the alleged misconduct of the embattled High Court judge, Anup Singh Choudry.
Choudry, who was recently relocated to the War Crimes Court from the Commercial Court, has been under investigation by the commission.
Investigations against Choudry followed allegations of misconduct when he worked as a solicitor in the UK before being appointed judge in Uganda last year.
Sources close to the commission yesterday told The New Vision that the recommendation to have a tribunal set up was contained in a report submitted to the President after the commission concluded its investigations.
The source added that instituting a tribunal would necessitate the appointment of foreign judges.
“It is an expensive exercise, but given the circumstances, the commission sees it as the only way out,†the source added.
The allegations against Choudry surfaced last year when the Uganda Law Society received information that he had been struck off the list of solicitors in the UK in 2000 over fraudulent dealings.
About three months ago, the judge clashed with some lawyers, who had asked him to disqualify himself until his name was cleared.
The lawyers challenged Choudry’s integrity and insisted that he had no moral ground to preside over cases.
The lawyers also threatened to boycott Choudry’s court.
Earlier, the law society had petitioned the commission to rescind Choudry’s appointment as judge in light of the revelations against him.
Following the court clash, Choudry did not preside over any case at the Commercial Court until his recent transfer to the War Crimes Court.
However, the War Crimes Court has not yet been established because the law under which it is supposed to operate is still in Parliament.