Leigh: No more arrests

2005-08-03 08:51

Borrie la Grange

Johannesburg - The first priority of the police and the national prosecuting authority (NPA) is to protect their cases and investigations so that speculation does not jeopardise them.

This is the opinion of Anton du Plessis, head of the Institute for Security Studies' crime and justice programme, on the unanswered questions in the Leigh Matthews case that are currently being raised in the media.

"It is counter-productive for the police and prosecutors and they have to protect the integrity of the case.

"I was actually quite surprised about the amount of information that the police released at the start of their investigation in this case. In kidnapping cases, it is better to release as little information as possible.

"Police spokesperson and the prosecuting authority are not there to dance to the tune of a sensation hungry public or the media. It is their responsibility to act in the interest of cases and investigations."

The police dismissed speculations about further arrests despite statements by Superintendent Piet Byleveld, investigating officer in the case, that a further "surprise" might be in stock.

Superintendent Chris Wilken, police spokesperson, stressed on Tuesday that Donovan Moodley remains the police's only suspect.

The only suspect

"He is the only suspect in the Matthews case. That is it - unless more information comes to light and it is investigated.

"Everyone wants information about the investigation, but we can released nothing until he (Moodley) is sentenced on Thursday," Wilken said.

William Bird of the Media Monitor project said the media has had access to a lot of information thus far, but the police's denial can actually fuel speculation.

"There are a number of things in the Matthews case that do not make sense. That is why the media keep searching for alternative angles to the story because so many people are interested in the case."

Bird said speculation in the media over whether Matthews's body had been frozen and the police's subsequent denial, is a typical example of the relationship between the two parties.

- Beeld