Advocate charged in courts row
2002-11-14 09:18
Cape Town - Western Cape director for public prosecutions Frank Kahn is facing a crimen injuria charge because two courtrooms in the High Court had to be closed due to a shortage of police orderlies.
Apparently, there was a shortage of orderlies last week, as well.
The charge against Kahn resulted from a phone conversation between the public prosecutions head and a police officer.
A senior member of Kahn's office, who overheard the conversation, dimissed the charge as ludicrous.
An upset Kahn said on Wednesday it was "disgraceful that police are unable to man the highest court in the province. Ebrahim Jeneker managed to escape twice, and now there are no orderlies".
"Enough is enough. I'll take the matter further. The High Court deserves more respect," said Kahn.
Kahn said he contacted director Jan Solomons, who was in charge of organising police at court, asking that three officers be sent to his court. Solomons reportedly told him they had "more urgent matters to attend to".
Solomons said on Wednesday: "We are experiencing a serious manpower shortage and and are doing everything in our power to attend to everything.
Charge being investigated
"We were required to provide orderlies to 33 magistrates and regional courts as well as the High Court."
Captain André Traut confirmed late on Wednesday afternoon that Solomons had filed a charge and that it was under investigation.
Kahn says at least R10 000 a day per court is squandered if any given High Court is not in session.
He says his department is blamed if a backlog is allowed to build up, "while other departments are letting us down badly. A court is not a place that should have to be closed".
He said all departments should co-operate in trying to solve the problem since the situation was unacceptable.
On visit to Langebaan
Kahn tried to contact members of police top management, including commissioner Lennit Max, the provincial chief, in an effort to try and resolve the matter.
He was unable to get in touch with any of them, and then called Solomons.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain Etienne Terblanche said police top brass had been on a visit to Langebaan, but that several other avenues could have been pursued.
"A long process has to be followed before commissioner Max is involved in a charge, and other sections are required to attend to the problem," he said.
Acting Cape Judge-President Jeanette Traverso declined to comment on the shortage of police officers.