Pretoria – Private forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan says he will not back down until certain “corrupt” people are behind bars.
“We are dealing with criminals – criminals with badges and criminals with gowns. They are going to go to prison for what they did. I will not stop,” O’Sullivan said following his appearance in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
Evil fighting
O’Sullivan’s comments come after the case, with co-accused assistant Sarah-Jane Trent and IPID officers Mandlakayise Mahlangu and Temane Binang, was struck from the roll.
On Wednesday morning, several charges relating to racketeering were served to the accused.
Thirty-four charges were in total brought against them.
O’Sullivan described his fight in court as the “forces of evil fighting the forces of good”.
He said the State was playing a “dirty” game and he was expecting it to bring more charges.
Magistrate Bheki Ntshingila said removing the case from the roll was not a “train smash.
“It is not the end of the case… the State should finalise their investigation”.
He said the matter had been delayed numerous times.
“There has been investigation after investigation [and] we are 10 months down the line”.
Torture and murder
Earlier on Wednesday, Prosecutor Advocate Molatlhwa Mashuga had argued that if the matter was struck from the roll, the accused were going to be “aggressive” towards witnesses.
He said O’Sullivan had allegedly sent a threatening text message to North West head of commercial crimes investigations, Brigadier Pharaza Ncube.
The alleged message read: “Your conduct will increase your years in prison”.
Ncube, who is part of a team of North West officers, along with Major-General Jan Mabula, was also present during proceedings.
The pair are under investigation by IPID for claims of torture and murder.
“The threat to witnesses is going to be continued,” Mashuga claimed.
Crimen injuria
News24 previously reported that the charges laid against O’Sullivan, Trent and IPID officers came days after it was publicly revealed that IPID was investigating billions of rands in police contracts awarded to businessman Keith Keating. IPID alleged that he paid for vehicles for former acting commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.
The latest charges allege that the four contravened the prevention of Organised Crime Act and that Trent, O’Sullivan and Mahlangu had “managed an enterprise”.
Other charges included intimidation, attempted extortion, crimen injuria, contravention of the prevention and combating of corrupt activities act.
Mashuga said they intend charging more IPID members.
Source: ‘We are dealing with criminals with badges and gowns,’ says defiant O’Sullivan | News24
