Ipid raids former top cop’s house
‘Unused SAPS tags worth R374m found hidden’
Police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), has raided the home of former acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane in its ongoing investigation of the former top cop.
The raid apparently accured on Tuesday.
According to a source who did not wish to be named, seven houses belonging to other police officers were also raided. The source said SAPS tags worth R374-million, which had never been used, were found hidden at a construction site.
Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini confirmed that investigators executed search warrants, but refused to comment further.
Phahlane was suspended in June after being accused of fraud and corruption for allegedly taking kickbacks to secure police tenders for a company that also allegedly installed a music system worth R80 000 at his home.
Phahlane has repeatedly claimed that he himself paid for the music system.
Another source said: “SAPS’s local criminal record centre equipment was found at other offices. A bakkie load of documents was seized from offices.”
A Pretoria car dealer’s home and a director of a company alleged to have also been linked to a police officer regarding his sponsored cars were allegedly among those raided by Ipid.
Last month the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced it would not prosecute Phahlane because there were “no prospects of success” in his case.
Phahlane was initially charged with defeating the ends of justice after he allegedly contacted witnesses interviewed by Ipid during their investigation.
NPA’s Luvuyo Mfaku said only a case of defeating the ends of justice against Phahlane was withdrawn.
“NPA gave Ipid investigators a long list of outstanding evidence. At the moment investigations into other allegations are continuing and the NPA will make a decision when investigations are complete,” Mfaku said.
Phahlane could not be reached for comment.