Top cop's luxury car fleet comes under the
spotlight
2017-01-25
14:00
Angelique Serrao, News24
Acting police
commissioner General Khomotso Phahlane during a meet and greet at Mall of
Africa (Iavan Pijoos, News24, file)
Johannesburg - The police watchdog's investigation into the lavish
lifestyle of the country's top cop appears to be expanding into his and his
wife's R4.3m fleet of luxury cars.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is
apparently widening their lifestyle probe into Acting Police Commissioner
Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane to include the six vehicles he and his
wife Beauty bought in the last two-and-a-half years. Beauty is also a career
police officer.
In addition, investigators have taken a warning statement from
Jolanta Komolodowicz, the person who sourced an R80 000 electronic sound system
on Phahlane's behalf.
Last week, IPID carried out a search and seizure raid on
Phahlane's home at the exclusive Sable Hills Waterfront Estate and removed the
sound system allegedly sourced by Komolodowicz - the director of Crimetech
Laboratories.
The company had obtained a multi-million rand tender to supply
chemical and forensic supplies to the SAPS.
Komolodowicz previously told The Citizen that Phahlane visited
Crimetech's offices in 2012. Impressed by the decor, he had asked her who her
decorator was. Komolodowicz replied she had decorated the offices herself.
"General Phahlane then asked if I would be willing to advise
him on decorating the house he was busy building. I agreed to advise General
Phahlane in a strictly business arrangement for which I have been
remunerated."
Money in car boot
Komolodowicz told News24 she was no longer allowed to speak
further about the sound equipment or what she told IPID, but she stuck to what
she had told The Citizen.
The vehicles under investigation include Range Rovers, a Toyota
Hilux and a Mercedes Benz, and are estimated to cost around R4.3m. News24
understands that at least four of the cars are being financed for around R2m in
total.
News24 reported in 2016 that IPID was investigating Phahlane over
a property which allegedly cost R8m for the land and construction. A portion of
the R8m was paid in cash.
IPID investigators probed alleged cash payments to a contractor
totalling R700 000. The money was allegedly in plastic shopping bags in the
boot of a car.
IPID is now apparently looking at the purchase of:
·
A grey Land Rover Discovery bought in August 2014
·
A grey Range Rover Sport bought in October 2016
·
A white single cab 3.0 diesel 4x4 Toyota Hilux
bought in January 2016
·
A beige Volkswagen Amarok bought in April 2015
·
A silver Volkswagen Polo bought in February 2016
·
A E250 CDI Mercedes Benz bought in January 2015
Police spokesperson Brigadier Sally de Beer said the allegations
were factually inaccurate and were an attempt to defame and humiliate Phahlane.
She also indicated that Phahlane would fight back in court.
"As in the instance where it was widely and inaccurately
reported that the acting national commissioner had received a sound system as a
corrupt gift and the fact was that he had paid for it himself, the allegations
in the leaked story relating to vehicles are misleading and false," De
Beer said.
Investigators threatened
Phahlane claims he produced proof of payment for the sound system,
showing the money was transferred from his personal account to the service
provider.
IPID also obtained a warning statement last week from Phahlane in
relation to an allegation that he had attempted to defeat the ends of justice
while they were working on the investigation.
Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan opened the original case
against Phahlane in January 2016. He alleged then that the bond Phahlane had
registered for the R8m property was considerably lower than the value of the
house, which he had built in 2011 and 2012.
News24 has seen a badly-written SMS, from an unknown number, sent
to one of the IPID investigators and O'Sullivan, which contains threats against
those involved in the probe.
"This is a warning to u. we r aware that u workin fo a big
foreign spy paul salivan who is funded by his masters. . . u must stop now. we
know where u stay and ur family. U must either choose to die with him
[sic]," it reads.
Phahlane previously said that while he respected IPID, he found it
unfortunate that the investigation was being conducted through the media. He
attacked O'Sullivan's involvement in the investigation and called him a
foreigner.
