Gauntlett facing misconduct complaint
2012-11-23 11:01
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Johannesburg - A professional misconduct complaint has been lodged against advocate Jeremy Gauntlett by lawyer Paul Ngobeni, Beeld reported on Friday.
Ngobeni, who is being investigated for, amongst others, alleged fraud in the US state of Connecticut, lodged the charge on Thursday, just 24 hours before nominations for the Constitutional Court judge vacancy close.
Ngobeni accuses Gauntlett of "false and scandalous accusations against the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), and in particular Judge Mogoeng Mogoeng".
He alleges that Gauntlett, during recent questioning by the JSC, provided "false or less than honest" answers to questions about Judge President John Hlope.
Last month, the JSC decided not to recommend Gauntlett as a judge in the Western Cape High Court, questioning whether he had the "humility and the appropriate temperament" for the job.
Gauntlett has since received several nominations from, among others, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille, to be a Constitutional Court judge.
According to Beeld, Gauntlett and Ngobeni had clashed for years, partly because of Gauntlett's involvement in a disciplinary tribunal instituted against Ngobeni by the University of Cape Town.
At the time, there were allegations that Ngobeni's legal qualifications were suspect, and he resigned.
Gauntlett has described Ngobeni's legal action as a deliberate attempt to scupper his nomination.
- SAPA
