Protector 'raid' cops cleared

[DreamKing]

Protector 'raid' cops cleared
2011-05-27 11:46

Johannesburg - The police officers who caused a stir at Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's office in March were on official business and have had their suspension lifted, the police said on Friday.

"Our investigation was done and then a decision was made that the outcome was that they operated within their mandate as part of a wider investigation that they were doing," said police spokesperson McIntosh Polela.

The two crime intelligence officials arrived at Madonsela's office in March without documentation supporting their request to see a memorandum related to her probe into a leasing tender for police headquarters in Pretoria.

She had declared the R500m lease agreement for new police headquarters improper and the document they sought had been published in the Sunday Times.

Apology

At the time, Madonsela said it had also been part of a bundle supplied to her by the police for her investigation, so she could not understand why they wanted it.

National police commissioner General Bheki Cele was among the figures mentioned in her final report, which found that the lease agreement was not legal.

Cele apologised to Madonsela for the visit, saying he did not sanction it and would investigate.

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa, who was in France on an official visit at the time, also expressed concern, and said he had asked Cele to look into it.

Polela said the police would not provide details of the investigation by the two officers.

It was decided at the end of April to lift their suspension.

"The decision to lift their suspension was after an investigation which included interviews with officials in crime intelligence and public works."

Meeting

Madonsela was expected to meet Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde on Friday.

Mahlangu-Nkabinde was cited as the responsible office-bearer in the public works aspect of Madonsela's lease probe.

Her department is in charge of the state's property assets.

Madonsela had called the arrival of the policemen at her office a "visit" but critics referred to it as a "raid".

Comment was not immediately available from Madonsela.

- SAPA

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Protector-raid-cops-cleared-20110527

 

[marine1]

What a joke, so the raid was sanctioned at high level?
Intimidation tactics simple as that IMO

 

[LazyLion]

ahahaha,... what a joke of a banana republic we live in!
These morons have no idea what is going on in their own departments, but they will go to the ends of the earth to defend their "comrades" and exonerate them for the worst offenses and misconduct.
Oink, TIA and bladdy agents.

 

[Alestorm]

Madonsela had called the arrival of the policemen at her office a "visit" but critics referred to it as a "raid".

It doesn't sound like a raid at all, they walked in and asked for some documents, didn't actually get them, then left?

The two officers themselves probably don't deserve to take the rap for this. It would help to actually see the details of the investigation, and more importantly who ordered them to try and get the documents.

 

[Fudzy]

It doesn't sound like a raid at all, they walked in and asked for some documents, didn't actually get them, then left?

The two officers themselves probably don't deserve to take the rap for this. It would help to actually see the details of the investigation, and more importantly who ordered them to try and get the documents.

Ofcourse, but why let that go when you can stir of some sensationalism.