15:04 ET<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nA senior judge in Swaziland, Thomas Masuku, has been suspended for allegedly insulting King Mswati III.<\/p>\n
Chief Justice Michael Ramodibedi told the BBC that Judge Masuku is accused of using the expression “forked-tongued” in a ruling referring to the king.<\/p>\n
Judge Masuku was quoted by AFP news agency as saying he would defend himself in the appropriate forum.<\/p>\n
King Mswati III is an absolute monarch who has ruled the southern African state for more than two decades.<\/p>\n
The AFP news agency reports that Judge Masuku described the king as “forked-tongued” in a ruling last year.<\/p>\n
His judgement said that policemen had wrongfully seized cattle in the monarch’s name.<\/p>\n
“It would be hard to imagine that his majesty could conceivably speak with a forked tongue, saying one thing and authorising his officers to do the opposite,” the ruling said, according to AFP.<\/p>\n
‘Suspension outrageous’<\/span><\/p>\nChief Justice Ramodibedi told the BBC Mr Masuku also faced other allegations of “serious misbehaviour”.<\/p>\n
This included claims that he supported “regime change” in Swaziland, Chief Justice Ramodibedi said.<\/p>\n
He told the BBC Mr Masuku would be investigated by the Judicial Services Commission.<\/p>\n
“It would then make recommendations to his majesty, in terms of the constitution,” the chief justice said.<\/p>\n
The chairman of Swaziland’s Coalition of Concerned Civic Organisations, Musa Hlope, told AFP the judge’s supension was outrageous.<\/p>\n
“If one reads these charges you can see somebody is painting Masuku as a bad guy in the eyes of the king,” Mr Hlope said.<\/p>\n
The Swazi monarchy banned political parties nearly 40 years ago, and has resisted opposition calls to introduce multi-party democracy.<\/p>\n
In April, police fired teargas to break up pro-democracy protests organised by trade unions.<\/p>\n
King Mswati III was crowned in 1986 at the age of 18, succeeding his long-serving father King Sobhuza II.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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