Query over Cato Manor cops' legal bills
2013-02-05 11:38
Durban - The NPA will ask the police to reach a decision on
paying the legal bills of 28 officers who face a string of charges, ranging
from murder to racketeering.
This emerged during Tuesday's brief KwaZulu-Natal High Court
appearance of the 28 members of the Cato Manor branch of the now disbanded
Durban Organised Crime Unit.
It had been expected that a trial date would be set, but
prosecutor Sello Maema told the court an adjournment was needed for the
"finalisation of the issue of legal representation".
The 28, accused of operating as death squad from the Cato
Manor police station in Durban, face more than 70 charges, including
racketeering, murder, and attempted murder.
They allegedly operated as an enterprise under KwaZulu-Natal
Hawks boss Johan Booysen's command, and allegedly obtained financial benefit
from associations, businesses and individuals in conflict with the people the
officers are accused of killing.
Sello said the State also needed to finalise the disclosure
of documents to the men's lawyers.
Postponed
The case was postponed to 9 May.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Natasha
Ramkisson said after the appearance the men had applied to the SA Police
Service for legal assistance.
"It's not that the NPA is going to help these men get
assistance. They have applied to the management (of SAPS) and the NPA will ask
that a decision is made either way, so that this case can proceed," she
said.
The policemen were arrested during August and June last
year. They were served with suspension notices at the end of August, pending
disciplinary procedures. They were ordered to surrender their passports and
their police cellphone PIN codes to investigators.
Originally 30 officers were arrested last year, but two of
the officers, captains Vincent Auerbach and Neville Eva, had since died.
- SAPA
