Police question
forensic supplies
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A leaked police report suggests a SAPS chemicals supplier is
possibly guilty of tender collusion.
A confidential police report leaked
to amaBhungane has pointed a finger at a supplier of vital chemicals to the
South African Police Service’s forensic division, suggesting it might be guilty
of tender collusion. It also recommends that the South African Revenue Service
and the treasury should investigate alleged irregularities.
The report says some of the
chemicals supplied by the company, Crimetech Laboratories, might have been of a
questionable standard and that the police should test them independently.
“The importance of this is obvious
when taking into account the detrimental effect such products could have on the
proper administration of justice,” it says.
It also reveals that at least 35
delivery notes for chemicals invoiced and paid for amounting to R12.8-million
could not be found. Although this did not necessarily imply that the products
were not delivered, it raised serious concerns.
Crimetech’s directors, Jolanta
Komodolowicz and John Henry Deale, strongly denied any wrongdoing. Komodolowicz
also said, if the investigators had contacted her, she could have corrected
their “misconceptions”.
Findings
The investigation, by CPN Forensic and Accounting Services, was ordered by national police commissioner Riah Phiyega after the police union Popcru levelled wide-ranging allegations against the forensic division.
The investigation, by CPN Forensic and Accounting Services, was ordered by national police commissioner Riah Phiyega after the police union Popcru levelled wide-ranging allegations against the forensic division.
Other findings of the investigation
were that:
- All local criminal record
centres nationwide were overstocked with chemicals;
- The KwaMhlanga record centre
received large quantities of chemicals despite not having a laboratory,
and faulty chemicals at Zamdela were removed by the supplier;
- At another record centre, in Modimolle,
chemicals were found with two different expiry dates. Komodolowicz said
this could have happened because the product was retested and found to be
still effective;
- There was a dramatic increase
in orders over three years from R9-million in 2010-2011 to R33.8-million
the following year and R22.9-million in 2012-2013, and that orders
multiplied before the expiry of contracts.
“It was noted during the analysis that the same items were ordered within very short intervals even before the previous order(s) have been fulfilled.”
Komodolowicz said: “The contract
value increased due to offtake and not price increases. This is not in our
control …”
Deale said everything the company
had done was above board.
“I think they should go ahead with the [report’s] recommendations because that will clear up everything,” he said. “The fact that some delivery notes couldn’t be found at the time was because they were only put on record after the reconciliation with [Colonel Elro] Hanniball of the forensic services.
“Prior to that, a lot of documents
got lost and we had to resupply … You can’t do business with the SAPS if
everything is not in order.”
‘Misrepresentation’
The report calls for further investigation into possible tender collusion between Crimetech and another company, Kriminalistik.
It notes that, in 2011, the two
companies provided the treasury with the same contact details and physical and
private bag addresses. It adds that, on a quotation on March 14 2013, submitted
by Kriminalistik, the registration of both companies was reflected, which, “in
the absence of proof of an error, constitutes a misrepresentation”.
It also notes that Komodolowicz
resigned as a director of Kriminalistik on February 7 2013 – the same day as
her then 19-year-old daughter, Karolina Ewelina Dlugosz, took over from her.
In reply, Komodolowicz said: “I just
gave it [Kriminalistik] to her because it was either for me to close the
company or sell it to someone and here she was available.”
Komodolowicz said there could be no collusion because Crimetech and Kriminalistik had never tendered for the same contract.
“Crimetech is the only manufacturer of crime investigation products chemicals used in our forensic laboratories and on crime scenes in Africa,” she said. “Kriminalistik does laboratory repairs and supplies equipment.” She said the only contract that Kriminalistik ever had with the police was for the supply of batteries and CD and DVD disks in 2008.
Last week, police spokesperson Solomon Makgale said Phiyega was still waiting for input from the parties implicated by the report before deciding on what action to take. He did not reply to questions emailed to him this week.
Also last week, amaBhungane revealed that impounded cocaine worth more than R720 000 disappeared from the police forensic division over three years without anyone being held to account.
