Hawks probing Cele phone bugging

2012-04-13 10:44

Johannesburg - The Hawks are investigating criminal charges over claims that the phone of suspended national police commissioner Bheki Cele was bugged, according to a report on Friday.

"Yes, we can confirm that there is an investigation... It's at an advanced stage," Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela told the Mail & Guardian.

The newspaper reported that Cele's phone was bugged by his own intelligence division, and that the interception began in late 2010.

Approached to comment on the allegations, Cele said he had not initially taken the matter seriously.

"I honestly dismissed the rumour of this as a bad joke when they reached my ears a year or so ago.

"I now have good reason to ask to ask the inspector general of intelligence to investigate this matter... a brazen violation of my rights," Cele told the Mail & Guardian.

- SAPA