Paulsen ‘refuses to return laptop’
MORE than a year after EFF MP Nazier Paulsen resigned from the Western Cape Legislature, the provincial parliament is still battling to get him to return electronic devices, which he received as perks while an MPL.
Paulsen was elected to the provincial legislature in May 2014 as the sole EFF MPL, but resigned a year later, opting instead to swop with the party’s Western Cape leader, Bernard Joseph, who took his seat, while Paulsen moved to the National Assembly.
The legislature, after numerous requests for Paulsen to hand over the devices, approached the police earlier this year to investigate Paulsen’s refusal or failure to return the property.
During a parliamentary question posed by DA chief whip Mark Wiley to Community Safety MEC Dan Plato last week, regarding the status of a police probe into the theft of a laptop from the provincial parliament by a former member of the provincial parliament, Plato informed the house the case had been withdrawn.
Plato said according to the police, the case against the member was discussed with the senior public prosecutor, who after perusal of the docket withdrew the case.
“They normally do not provide us with any reasons why they withdraw the case,” he added.
Wiley in response asked the MEC to pursue the matter with the public prosecutor’s office, given it was the property of the provincial parliament.
“We all signed pledges that we would return such property, therefore it is a clear case of theft,” Wiley said.
ANC chief whip Pierre Uys was amused by the fact Plato had to follow up on the case number and report back to the provincial parliament.
“I want to know if it is normal practice for an MEC to follow up case numbers,” he questioned while asking if they, too, could bring case numbers for Plato to follow up. Is that your role and responsibility?”
Plato said part of his role and responsibility, when people referred a policing or court case to him, included he acted as a facilitator.
“I do not have the authority to investigate myself, that is not my responsibility. They (the police) provide me with the necessary answer,” he told the House.
Asked for comment, Paulsen said he was aware the question about the missing laptop was raised during last week’s sitting.
Paulsen said he had made a fair offer to the legislature to purchase the laptop, but his offer was ignored and he has been waiting ever since for the Speaker to respond.
The EFF Member of Parliament argued the gadgets contained sensitive information and returning the equipment would expose the sources of that information to the people they complained about.
“Even if I deleted the contents, they can still recover what was on it. I made a vow to protect my sources and that is what I am doing. I made them a fair offer back then and I can’t imagine who would want a second hand laptop, since it is like having a second-hand pair of lingerie,” he added.