Cop sold me police docket, claims suspect
September 30 2013 at 10:49am
By Lungelo Mkamba
By Lungelo Mkamba
Durban -
A Chatsworth police
colonel is being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative
Directorate after being accused by a suspected drug dealer of selling a police
docket to him for R10 000.
The directorate confirmed on Friday
that Colonel Bongani Biyela, the head of the detective service at the
Chatsworth police station, was facing corruption charges after Strini Naidoo, a
suspected whoonga/sugars dealer, was allegedly found in possession of a police
docket earlier this month during a drug raid on his house.
Naidoo, 39, has appeared in the
Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court, facing charges of theft and defeating the ends
of justice.
Police had received a tip-off that
drugs were being sold at Naidoo’s house in Klaarwater Road, Shallcross.
The docket, registered to Chatsworth
police station, was found during the search.
The docket contained a charge against
Naidoo – of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, which was
reported earlier this month.
According to a policeman with knowledge
of the case, Naidoo was evasive when asked about the docket. He then told the
detectives that he paid Biyela R10 000 for the docket.
The police referred the matter to the
directorate.
Directorate spokesman Moses Dlamini
said the investigation was ongoing, and no arrests had been made.
Biyela was contacted for comment on
Sunday, but said he was not allowed to talk to the media.
Another policeman said the allegations
were a campaign to have Biyela ousted because he was fighting corruption and
drug dealers.
“There are people within the police
trying to remove him. It’s a plot. He would not take money.
When the time is right, he will speak
out,” he said.
Police spokesman Jay Naicker said he
could not respond because the matter was with the directorate.
Naicker said Biyela remained on active
duty despite calls by drug activists for his suspension.
“They remain mere allegations made by a
drug dealer, and we await the outcome of the investigation,” Naicker said.
The Mercury
