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Poison letter puts NPA on alert
09/03/2008 22:45 - (SA)
Cobus Claassen, Beeld
Pretoria - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will investigate how to sharpen its safety measures at its Silverton headquarters after the office received a poisoned letter last week.
Tlali Tlali, spokesperson for the NPA, confirmed on Sunday that the office of advocate Mokotedi Mpshe, acting head of the NPA, was quarantined on Thursday after the threatening letter was opened.
Although the letter was addressed to Mpshe, he did not receive it or handle it.
Tlali said personnel became suspicious because the letter smelled strange and some personnel developed a rash.
"Five personnel handled the letter and one of them experienced more-severe symptoms. Everyone has received treatment and is out of danger."
A section of the building which includes Mpshe's office, was cordoned off and gone over with a fine-tooth comb.
According to Tlali, the forensic tests so far have indicated that the substance did not fall into the extremely dangerous category.
"We will get a complete report soon and then we'll be able to make more details available."
He did not want to elaborate about a possible motive for the letter, but said the NPA would try to find out what was what as soon as possible.
"We hope it will not be too difficult to catch the sender," said Tlali.
The NPA will also re-examine its safety measures.
"It is necessary to look at it to determine whether there are any holes in our (safety) system."
Took over from Pikoli
Mpshe had the whole country humming after he confirmed in January that he was going to charge the head of police, Commissioner Jackie Selebi, with corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
Mpshe assumed his position after the previous head of the NPA, advocate Vusi Pikoli, was suspended by President Thabo Mbeki in September because of an alleged breech of confidence with Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla.
Tlali did not want to comment on whether the NPA was worried about the possibility that Mpshe's life might be in danger.
"We don't want to discuss safety details but it is worrying that something like this has occurred."
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