No merit to complaint: Hofmeyr

2011-07-17 22:11

Johannesburg - There is no merit in the complaint of corruption made by billionaire Dave King, Willie Hofmeyr said on Sunday.

"If I had believed that I had done anything wrong, I would have offered to resign my position, or asked to be placed on suspension pending a resolution of the matter," he said in a statement.

"I strongly believed that there was no substance in the complaint."

The National Prosecuting Authority on Sunday said police had been asked to investigate a second complaint of corruption against Hofmeyr, the head of both the asset forfeiture unit and the special investigating unit.

NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mahaga said the national director of public prosecutions [Menzi Simelane] called in the police after King levelled the allegations against Hofmeyr. "Dave King wrote to us and complained about corruption. We referred it to the police," Mahaga told Sapa.

"I think they have opened a docket."

King's complaints reportedly relate to a request by the AFU that the billionaire withdraw complaints against the unit as part of a plea deal on myriad charges against him, including tax evasion.

Mahaga said the NPA was unable to investigate King's claims because it no longer had an investigative arm following the demise of the Scorpions.

"We have no investigative capacity or mandate. So that is why the national director referred it to the police."

Credibility

Hofmeyr said that although there was no merit to the complaint it was important that it was still investigated properly.

"The NPA initially proposed that an internal investigation should be conducted.

"However, I felt that such an investigation would lack credibility, especially if I were cleared of the charges, and proposed an investigation by a panel of independent senior counsel appointed from the bar," he said.

It was more appropriate to refer the complaint to the police.

Hofmeyr said representations were made to the investigating officer in December 2010 and the complaint was still being investigated.

"I reiterate what I had said previously, namely that I believe that no one is above the law or beyond investigation," he said.

Police are already investigating another charge against Hofmeyr, based on a complaint by a member of the National Health, Education and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu).

It relates to the alleged misappropriation of SIU funds and the alleged flouting of supply chain and procurement procedures in the awarding of a tender to refurbish the unit's offices in Pretoria.

Of that case, Hofmeyr has said he was confident of a fair and speedy investigation despite the "nasty" allegations and hinted that it was an attempt to discredit him because of his work in fighting serious corruption.

- SAPA