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Probe
into top cop late, but ongoing
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INVESTIGATIONS against police boss General Riah Phiyega for defeating
the ends of justice are at an advanced stage, but have not been concluded.
The Star understands, however, that they are at an advanced stage. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is probing a scandal involving Phiyega after she allegedly tipped off Western Cape police commissioner Arno Lamoer that the Hawks and the Crime Intelligence Unit were investigating him. In a purported recorded conversation between Phiyega and Lamoer, she is heard alerting him to the probe by the Hawks and crime intelligence because there was a link between him and an alleged Cape Town drug dealer. Crime intelligence operatives said they had been legally recording conversations between Lamoer and the alleged dealer when they picked up a conversation between Phiyega and Lamoer. During the conversation, she makes Lamoer aware that Hawks boss Anwa Dramat is conducting the probe and also discloses that then acting head of crime intelligence, Chris Ngcobo, had told her they were investigating him. On Tuesday, Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini said the investigation into Phiyega had not been concluded. Last year, he said the investigator had been given three months to finalise the probe. He has now acknowledged there had been some delays, but was not at liberty to discuss these. Dlamini added: “We want to do a thorough investigation. It is at an advanced stage. We are going to finish very soon.” The Star understands that the tapes were handed over to Ipid in November and that statements have already been taken from key witnesses. DA spokeswoman Dianne Kohler Barnard said: “I fear that they (Ipid) don’t have the courage to take her (Phiyega) on. Ipid is fairly weak. “They are not the (now disbanded) Scorpions.” She wanted to know why Ipid had failed to complete the investigation within the specified period. “They said the investigation was going to take three months. What is causing the delay now?” Kohler Barnard asked. She feared that there might be inference with the investigation and Ipid. “Remember, if the Ipid investigation finds that Phiyega did alert Lamoer about the investigation against him, she would have to be arrested because she committed a criminal offence,” Kohler Barnard said. By Solly Maphumulo - solly.maphumulo@inl.co.za The Star 06/02/14 Early Edition |
Monday, March 3, 2014
Crimes of the South African police Service
