<B>Why are you so involved in the defence of “sale by levy” victims? Why made you start taking an interest in this affair?</B>

Everyday I receive lots of poor and uneducated people in my office complaining about the sale by levy system.It is this that has made me realise that a big mafia involving professionals was operating in the Supreme Court. My first article on the issue was published on the 14th March in Sunday Vani. Then, both the written and spoken press got involved and helped me a lot in my struggle. I believe I have acted as a whistleblower and given a wake-up call for the voiceless and defenceless people.

<B>What exactly are you denouncing? </B>

The law governing sale by levy goes back to 1969; it is outdated and leads to a lot of abuse. The law protects bankers, that is creditors, instead of taking debtors into consideration. I do not find it “normal” that banks impose big penalties on poor people. Likewise, the 10% commission claimed by attorneys is downright irregular. If somebody has contracted a loan and is not able to pay it back in the period allowed, the debtor not only has to pay huge interest rates to the bank but also attorney fees. I believe this is contradictory.

Moreover, there are many unregistered moneylenders in the country. I am surprised to see that no step has been taken by the authorities for the last so many years.

<B>The commission of inquiry on sale by levy starts its proceedings today. Are you satisfied with its terms of reference? </B>

I had a 50-minute working session with the three commissioners last week, which was satisfying. I asked that the commission be attributed “increased powers”, which the government seemed to acknowledge. But I don’t really know what they mean exactly by this term. On the other hand, I find it surprising that the sale by levy procedures have been maintained while the commission of inquiry is hearing witnesses. I wrote to the prime minister and the chief justice but they are both passing the buck. While the whole system should be frozen until the end of the enquiry, no one wants to take the responsibility.

<B>What do you expect from such a commission?</B>

My hope and dream is that this commission is different from other ones. It has to be credible and strong to deliver the goods and meet the expectations of people outside. It should not produce a mass of literature but rather uncover the darkest side of the affair. What I discovered myself is only the tip of the iceberg. The real problem is corruption as a whole, which is taking on epidemic proportions. If we are not careful, our country will become like Kenya or Zimbabwe. This commission of inquiry should be a wake-up call for the nation.