Sleuth O’Sullivan to sue state
PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR SEEKS COMPENSATION FOR BREACH OF RIGHTS He appeared in court on charges of fraud, intimidation, extortion and conspiracy.
Private forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan said he is going to sue the state for R100 million and take the property of those who had a part in kidnapping him on February 13.
He said their families “can go hungry” because of their conduct.
He was speaking outside the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court where he briefly appeared with his assistant Sarah-Jane Trent and the two Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) members, Mandlakayise Mahlangu and Temane Abram Binang.
The four face charges of fraud, intimidation, extortion and conspiracy.
Ipid head Robert McBride was also in court to show support.
O’Sullivan is the complainant in the criminal case investigation against suspended acting national police commissioner Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane.
The investigator said he was kidnapped on February 13 this year by the police.
“They took my cellphone and, unlawfully downloaded its contents,” said O’Sullivan.
“They then read out my private messages in parliament, which means they published it to the world.
“This is not just a criminal offence for which they will be charged, it is a civil breach of my constitutional rights and I will in due course be filing proper summons against the state.”
He said he will be naming each of the individuals in his summons. “I will ask for R100 million. “I will additionally ask that each and every one of those individuals, that have caused this claim on the public purse, are themselves held liable.
“We’ll sequestrate them and take their homes and their cars and everything and their families can go hungry because of their conduct,” he said.
The case was postponed to October 6 for further investigation.