Phiyega accused of jeopardising probe

Johannesburg - Suspended police chief Riah Phiyega and several top SAPS brass allegedly read the interception file of the recording of her conversation with former Western Cape provincial commissioner Arno Lamoer “to circumvent the investigation against her”.

The Star has seen a secret document penned by Crime Intelligence operatives to acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, asking him to investigate the allegations.

The file contains sensitive information of a conversation between Phiyega and Lamoer during which she alerts him to an investigation by the Hawks and Crime Intelligence against him and which had become a subject of an investigation.

Phahlane’s acting spokesman, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, confirmed on Tuesday that a case has been opened against Phiyega and several senior police officers.

He, however, declined to explain the reason for the investigation.

The Star understands that a case was opened at Sunnyside police station on Friday. The document reads: “The allegations that are contained in this Information Note are also part of an ongoing Crime Intelligence inquiry that has reached such a sensitive stage that the decisive intervention of the acting National Commissioner is now warranted.

“On or about October 26, 2013 in the afternoon, General Phiyega convened a meeting at the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria.

“The purpose of the meeting was, among other things, to discuss the strategy of dealing with the pending criminal charges of defeating the ends of justice that had been laid against General Phiyega at Bishop Lavis, Western Cape.

“Also discussed was the strategy to respond to the media queries regarding the same matter, and if needs be, to interdict the publication of any newspaper article relating to the case that had been opened against Phiyega.”

The suspended police commissioner was accused of defeating the ends of justice and was investigated by police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), for allegedly alerting Lamoer about investigations against him for having links to a criminal.

“The aforementioned circumstances absolutely did not warrant the disclosure of the contents of the file, and the only reason the file was brought to the meeting can only be said to have been to tamper with the contents thereof and to circumvent the investigations against General Phiyega.”

According to the document, a delegation of senior officers from SAPS Legal also joined the meeting to discuss crediting the allegations against Phiyega.

It further states that an officer was instructed to peruse the interception file in question and to advise on the technical errors that could be used to discredit the allegations against Phiyega. The officer’s name is known to The Star.

“They compromised the investigation. Some of the people who were in that meeting did not even have security clearance.

“She was breaking the rules to get what she wants. That file was supposed to be sealed because it was subject to an investigation,” said a crime intelligence operative who did not want to be named.

Phiyega said on Wednesday: “I have learnt via the media that criminal charges have been instituted against me for defeating the ends of justice with respect to the Lamoer matter. My lawyers are in the process of confirming the existence of these charges and I will respond to them accordingly.”

She added that the Lamoer matter was subjected to investigations by Ipid and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Both organisations found no compelling reasons to pursue this matter.

The NPA recommended that Police Minister Nathi Nhleko pursue an internal disciplinary hearing against Phiyega.

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The Star

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