(Seychelles News Agency) - A tribunal set up by the Constitutional Appointment Authority of Seychelles to investigate complaints of misbehavior by the Chief Justice, Mathilda Twomey, heard its first testimony from witnesses on Monday.

Four witnesses are expected to appear before the court, including Supreme Court Judge Durai Karunakaran.

Four charges are laid against Chief Justice Twomey: the abuse of authority of office; destruction of evidence; making public the report of the tribunal of inquiry into the conduct of Judge Karunakaran; and the institution of the tribunal of inquiry.

One of Justice Twomey’s lawyers, Kieran Shah, told SNA that "these accusations are unfounded, and that's what we're going to explain to the court." Three foreign judges from Australia, Nigeria and South Africa have been appointed to hear the case.

This court is presided over by Australian Judge Michael Adams. The work of the commission will continue on Tuesday and is expected to last for two weeks.

Chief Justice Mathilda Twomey is the second senior judicial officer to be investigated by a tribunal established by the Constitutional Appointments Authority of Seychelles in the last two years.

Supreme Court Justice Durai Karunakaran was suspended in October 2016 following a decision by the Constitutional Appointments Authority to refer Judge Karunakaran to an investigative court for an investigation into his professional conduct.

Karunakaran was suspended from his duties until the end of the investigation, pursuant to article 134 (4) of the Constitution.

Twomey was appointed the Chief Justice of the Seychelles Supreme Court in August 2015, becoming the first Seychellois woman to be appointed to the post.

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the Commonwealth Legal Education Association and the Commonwealth Magistrates 'and Judges' Association have expressed their concerns about the Authority's decision in a press release.

The three Commonwealth associations have stated that the existence of an independent and impartial judiciary is one of the fundamental points of any country governed by the rule of law.