Frightening twist to leaked e-mails

INDICATIONS that the Gupta family through its associates allegedly spied on bank executives, their families and other business people are perhaps the most unnerving yet to come from the infamous leaked e-mails.

The Sunday Times reported that from 2015 Gupta associate Ashu Chawla was in possession of a spreadsheet which contained personal information and travel details of Absa chief executive Maria Ramos and her husband, former minister Trevor Manuel, as well as other prominent business executives.

Why Chawla had the information is anyone’s guess.

However, considering the broader context of the Gupta empire’s politically empowered business operations, it is reasonable to conclude that behind this were hugely sinister motives.

Further the timing of the e-mails – around when Absa first indicated its intentions to close Gupta accounts – also adds to the murky puzzle.

Yesterday the EFF entered the fray, backing earlier reports that the Gupta family had allegedly also spied on party leader Julius Malema.

The entire saga raises two major issues.

The first is whether the exposure of these allegations will push law enforcement agencies to pursue the evidence presented in the public domain.

This, it must be said, is regardless of whether those allegedly being spied on pressed criminal charges or not.

There is enough to these allegations to compel the state to investigate and act in the interest of justice.

Failing to do so will further widen the trust deficit between citizens and law enforcement, in particular when the Guptas are involved.

Second, it is reasonable to believe that the Guptas would not have obtained this kind of information without the assistance of state employees.

This is most frightening, that confidential citizen information in the hands of the state could potentially be leaked to other private entities for unscrupulous political means. For this government must account.