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
