Browse Mole sources queried
2008-07-01 19:13
Johannesburg - Intelligence director-general Manala Manzini has questioned former Scorpions' head Leonard McCarthy's claim that at first he did not know who provided information for the Browse Mole Report.
Testifying at the hearing in Johannesburg into prosecutions boss Vusi Pikoli's fitness to hold office, Manzini said this was questionable given that informants and sources were strictly administered to prevent abuse of state resources.
He was responding to a letter from McCarthy to National Intelligence Agency deputy director-general Arthur Fraser regarding an investigation into the source of the report, read to him by Pikoli's advocate, Wim Trengove.
In the letter, McCarthy said he had found out the identity of the sources only on June 16/17 2006 and would provide their identities provided they were not disclosed.
The inquiry earlier heard that he gave an interim copy of the report to Pikoli in March.
One of the informants said he did not want his identity revealed and would speak only to the president if it was necessary to interview him, the letter continued.
"Registration of informants is a controlled activity which takes place at the high levels to prevent abuse of state resources," countered Manzini.
"It is revealing that the head (of the Directorate of Special Operations) can say he had no knowledge of his sources."
He added: "We still have to ask, what resources were used to produce the product called Browse?"
The Browse Mole Report alleges Libyan and Angolan funding for a street revolution to overthrow President Thabo Mbeki in favour of African National Congress president Jacob Zuma.
Manzini said that even though the letter looked like the co-operation the NIA had asked for from the National Prosecuting Authority, they had received very little assistance.
In-camera ruling to be decided
Earlier on Tuesday, Manzini declined to ask questions relating to concerns about interaction with Pikoli's counterpart in Malawi on their investigation into a plot to overthrow that government.
He felt that out of respect for Malawi as a sovereign state and because that matter was before the courts, it should be discussed in camera.
This part of the inquiry deals with whether Pikoli's office dealt with matters considered by the NIA to be out of their mandate.
"We will show a litany of several other contacts that were taking place," said Manzini.
Inquiry chair Frene Ginwala said she would decide on the in-camera ruling later.
Fraser will be the State's next witness.
- SAPA