Police investigators grilled in anti-terrorism case

GAUTENG police investigating a suspected terror plot admitted in court that they had destroyed evidence without presenting it to defence lawyers and sometimes “bent the rules” when investigating cases.

The admissions were made yesterday on the first day of the trial of brother and sister‚ Ibrahim and Fatima Patel‚ who were arrested for terrorism last year along with identical twins Brandon-Lee and Tony-Lee Thulsie.

The Patels are on trial in the Kagiso Magistrate’s Court.

They were arrested in July in an anti-terrorism police raid on their Azaadville home on the West Rand.

The Thulsies‚ who will return to court next month, were arrested when police raided their Johannesburg homes in the same operation.

They are accused of plotting to attack British‚ US and Jewish interests in South Africa.

All four were arrested under the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrosim and Related Activities Act‚ but only the Thulsies have been charged with terrorism.

Ibrahim Patel was charged under the Explosives Act for being in possession of a stun grenade.

Fatima was charged under the Firearms Control Act for being in possession of 20 rounds of ammunition.

Lawyers for the Patels were particularly critical of the handling of the investigation in court yesterday.

Police ballistics expert LieutenantColonel Henry Weiderman admitted he had destroyed the stun grenade without telling prosecutors and defence lawyers.

Warrant Officer Jacobus Venter told the court he flouted certain procedures during the search-andseizure operation and admitted he occasionally bent the rules while investigating cases.

The admission was made when he was questioned by the Patels’ lawyer, Nadeem Mohamed, on why the Patels had not been read their rights and why he had failed to read the searchand-seizure and arrest warrants before conducting the operation.

The trial proceeds on April 20.