Staff Reporter
A Bloemfontein Regional Court prosecutor has been released on warning after she was charged for defeating the ends of justice.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Phaladi Shuping said in a statement Advocate Beverley Jantjies was charged for an incident that happened on May 5.
He said MacDonald Leine, who is in a relationship with Jantjies, appeared before the Brandfort Magistrates Court on charges of corruption on March 18 and was denied bail.
On April 8, Leine indicated that he intended to bring a bail application on new facts.
“Jantjies informed the legal representative of Leine that the complainant in the corruption matter, Lehlohonolo Lebone, who is an inmate at Grootvlei Prison, wants to withdraw the matter,” said Shuping in the statement.
On April 20, Leine testified during his bail application that Lebone wanted to withdraw the matter but when the investigating officer followed up with Lebone he denied having met Leine and stated that he had no intention of withdrawing the corruption charge.
On April 30, Jantjies was attending regional court in Brandfort and she requested the district court prosecutor to requisition Leine to appear at the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on May 5.
However, the investigating officer and the prosecutor dealing with the corruption case against Leine were not informed of this arrangement.
“The requisition was sent to Grootvlei by SA Police Service officials from Brandfort but Lebone was not brought to court . . . because the requisition form did not have a stamp,” Shuping explained.
“The state alleges that Jantjies wanted Leine and his legal representative to consult with Lebone and persuade him to withdraw corruption charges against Leine.
“As a prosecutor, Jantjies is bound by a code of conduct to act professionally at all times and she should have not involved herself in the corruption matter because of her relationship with Leine who was an accused in the matter.”
Jantjies was released on warning and the case was postponed to June 29 for further investigations.