There is hardly any media (be it online or offline) capable of reporting something trivial as this correctly. Perhaps I am expecting too much from people having internet connectivity, but it is a frequent (and scary) reminder how clueless even IT experts are in such trivial matters.
On a side note - no update yet. We guess that Hawks/CCU are busy going through evidence and at some point will charge or refer to prosecutor. Although we have no insight into the complaint/affidavit it is very evident that only one person is investigated.
Just out of interest for others here on this forum, here are the normal investigation / prosecution procedures.
Once a case is reported at a police station, it will be registered and then transferred to an investigation department, albeit the normal detectives or any other investigation unit such as the Hawks.
The various commanders at these units will read through new case dockets and assign it to an investigating officer. The commander will supply the investigating officer with guidance on what is required next in the investigation.
Now the police investigation will begin officially. The police will get all the required affidavits. If needed, they will subpoena banks, services providers or whomever if they need evidence in a specific case. The case docket will be sent to the commander of the investigating officer on several occasions. They will re-look at the evidence and decide what else is needed and instruct the investigating officer to obtain the required evidence. This process will continue until the police are satisfied that their investigation is completed.
When an investigation is completed the police will contact the suspect in the case and obtain a so-called "Warning Statement". This statement will then be included in the case docket. Suspects are not required to provide a warning statement and they are free to decline.
The case docket will now be sent to a prosecutor at court. The prosecutor will look at all the evidence presented by the State. The prosecutor will also look at the Warning Statement of the suspect. If the prosecutor determines that there is no case to be answered by the accused and there are insufficient evidence, they will 'Nolle Prosequi' the case (Refuse to Institute Prosecution). But, if they feel that there is sufficient grounds for prosecution, they will charge the suspect.
If a Warning Statement is not provided, generally prosecution is instituted with immediate effect, so that the suspect can state his side in court. In very, very few instances will a prosecutor refuse to prosecute without a warning statement, but usually in these few events there will be no reasonable chance of a successful prosecution.
The prosecutor will now decide if the evidence in the case docket is sufficient - or not. If not, the prosecutor will return the case docket to the investigating officer with requests to obtain further evidence. Once the police complied to all the requests from the prosecutor, the prosecutor will now do either one of two things:
1. Issue a Warrant of Arrest
2. Issue a Summons
The case docket will now go back to the police and they will either arrest the suspect or serve the summons. The suspect will now appear in court and be charged officially. The suspect will now become an accused.
The police themselves cannot institute prosecution. They are merely the investigating side of things. Only the courts can institute prosecution.
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