Listening through the hour-long speech, I skipped the part where the Prime Minister said he wanted to reform the law to protect public officers from personal liability n cases of corruption. Luckily, I have journalists who can back me up. Sometimes, my mind doesn’t register absurdities that are highly improbable.
In fact what the Prime Minister is proposing is unconstitutional and goes against a swathe of laws, jurisprudence and case law. I was a public officer myself and although I don’t remember the specific legal articles, which are numerous, the law including the Constitution itself already provides a very structured and detailed description of the responsibilities of a public servant. I don’t even think that changing the law in the way the Prime Minister is proposing is actually possible.
In practice, the Prime Minister wants to absolve public officers of personal liability in corruption cases involving their superiors. This is most probably because currently, some public officers are currently being investigated by the Police and will soon be arraigned in Court over charges of fraud and corruption. The Prime Minister is aware of these investigations, and as usual is intervening to cover-up for government corruption.
Public officers can never escape personal liability and the law clearly underpins the great responsibility they carry. Even the legal idea is absurd and doesn’t make any sense, not to mention, outright unconstitutional. If the Prime Minister actually passes such a reform, he would only be giving a message in favour of rampant abuse of power with a law that would eventually be taken down by the Constitutional Court.
Being responsible for government funds or resources is a serious task and public officers are always personally liable of their actions over the resources handed to them. Public officers can also face interdiction by law if they commit offences and crimes in their work, or even outside working hours. At the same time, public officers also enjoy the privilege of added protection by the law and if you commit a violent crime against a public officer, it can be considered as an aggravated offense.
I don’t think there is actually a way to reform the law in the way the Prime Minister is proposing.
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