Detained O’Sullivan moved after concerns for his safety
THE head of the Hawks in Gauteng confirmed to the Sunday Times last night that forensic consultant Paul O’Sullivan was arrested late on Friday and has been moved from Pretoria Central police station following concerns about his safety.
Major-General Prince Mokotedi, the Hawks head in Gauteng, said that O’Sullivan had raised concerns about his own safety and was moved to Villieria police station in Pretoria, “where conditions are safer”.
“He was worried that he might be killed,” said Mokotedi.
O’Sullivan is due to appear in court tomorrow.
He was charged with contravening immigration law. He was found in possession of three passports — one South African, an Irish passport and one from Great Britain, Mokotedi said.
O’Sullivan’s lawyers were told that he was moved from the central police station, but were not informed about his new location.
The forensic investigator had initially been held in a general cell at the central police station with other awaiting-trial prisoners.
However, Mokotedi could not confirm whether or not O’Sullivan would now be detained in a single holding cell.
Darryl Furman, one of O’Sullivan’s lawyers, said in statement that his client had been arrested “on trumped up charges” by a 15man team “in front of his small GOTCHA: Paul O’Sullivan is due to appear in court tomorrow for contravening immigration laws children”, cuffed and “driven in a blue light convoy at high speed”.
O’Sullivan had provided credible information on the planned escape of Radovan Krejcir and, as a result, “received further credible information of a imminent attempt to murder him”, read part of the statement.
It was “common cause” that the investigator had “opened criminal dockets against many very senior police officers”.
O’Sullivan was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport, where he was removed from an SAA flight destined for London.
Mokotedi said O’Sullivan would face further charges but declined to provide details.
The Gauteng Hawks boss also denied that O’Sullivan had been arrested in front of his children.
“We are not hiding him [O’Sullivan], we are only reacting because he asked for us [to intervene],” said Mokotedi.
Private investigator Mike Bolhuis said O’Sullivan had been treating police officers as if they were Jackie Selebi. “Paul has been overstepping the line of late. It’s gone to his head.” Bolhuis is assisting police with the case.
We are not hiding him [O’Sullivan], we are only reacting because he asked for us