MBABANE - Swazi lawyers have filed a sexual harassment case against the chief justice, who sparked controversy by suspending a judge for "insulting" King Mswati III, according to papers
The papers were seen this week by the AFP news agency.
Lawyers went on strike six days ago to protest Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi's decision to suspend Judge Thomas Masuku over 12 misdemeanour offences, including a reference to Mswati as "forked-tongued" in a ruling last year and a sexual affair with a female judge.
In a case filed on Wednesday with the Judicial Service Commission, the Law Society accused Ramodibedi of sexual harassment, based on complaints from five female court workers.
"Justice Ramodibedi has conducted himself in an inappropriate manner towards female employees of the High Court of Swaziland," read the complaint, which was seen by AFP.
"There is prima facie evidence that the chief justice is guilty of charges of sexual harassment," added the complaint.
The Judicial Services Commission quickly banned Swazi press from publishing details of the lawyers' complaint.
Lawyers agreed to return to work from yesterday, while the commission studies their complaint.
Ramodibedi, from Lesotho, was brought in last month by Mswati to become chief justice. One of his first acts was an order preventing anyone from "directly or indirectly" suing the king.
Ramodibedi is currently in Botswana, where he sits on the appeals court.
Masuku is one of the few judges who has dared be critical of Mswati, Africa's last absolute monarch.
The strike by the lawyers has added to pressure on Mswati, who since April has faced a series of protest s demanding democratic reforms.
Civil servants have spearheaded the protests against moves to slash their salaries, as the kingdom struggles with a crippling financial crisis that has left it battling to pay salaries and keep schools and clinics running. - Sapa-AFP