Probe manipulated, says police colonel

2011-09-27 22:29

Durban - A policeman accused of trying to bribe the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head claimed on Tuesday that the investigation against him was being manipulated.

He made the assertion in an affidavit read by his lawyer Joe Wolmarans during his bail application in the Durban Magistrate's Court.

Colonel Navin Madhoe said those investigating him were seeking to attack his credibility.

Madhoe and businessman Thoshan Panday are accused of working together to try and bribe Hawks head Major General Johan Booysen by offering him R2m to backdate documents in a R60m corruption case, so they would not be incriminated.

Both men indicated through their lawyers they intended pleading not guilty. The start of proceedings was delayed as the matter had to be moved from the Durban Commercial Crimes Court to the Durban Magistrate’s Court.

Panday was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Saturday on his return from Zambia, Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said in a statement.

Smokescreen

He was arrested after allegedly dropping a suitcase containing more than R1.3m into Booysen's car.

The State has alleged that the remaining R700 000 was to have been paid later.

Wolmarans told the court the case against Madhoe was just a smokescreen. He said the case against Panday had been dormant for over a year and that Madhoe had refused several requests to testify against him.

During their appearance on Monday, Panday's legal representative Jimmy Howse argued it was in the interests of justice for both men's bail applications to be heard at the same time.

Madhoe's bail application continues on Wednesday.

- SAPA