Vearey and Lincoln: apology and clarification

● On October 13 2019 (Would-be top cop ‘asked for bribes’) we reported on a police complaint lodged by Nafiz Modack against Maj Gen Jeremy Vearey, in which Modack accused Vearey of soliciting bribes.

The National Prosecuting Authority at the time confirmed that the allegations were being investigated by the police anti-corruption unit.

Our story also referred to an audio recording of a conversation purportedly between Mohamedaly Hanware, Modack’s “gobetween”, and Vearey, in which the person alleged to be Vearey appeared to solicit a bribe.

A transcript of the audio recording was published together with the story. Vearey at the time denied that it was him speaking on the recording and Hanware failed to respond to questions.

It subsequently appeared that our information was incorrect, in that the voice on the recording is not that of Vearey. We retract any suggestion that the recording features Vearey’s voice and apologise to him for any embarrassment that may have resulted.

In the same story, as well as previously on June 30 2019 (World’s most dangerous city), we referred to Maj Gen André Lincoln’s 2018 court victory against the minister of police for malicious prosecution.

In both stories, the judgment was said to have “exonerated Lincoln of corruption related to his relationship with Italian mafia boss Vito Palazzolo”.

Lincoln was never formally charged with corruption in relation to his relationship with Palazzolo and the statement may therefore have been confusing.

What we intended to convey was that during Lincoln’s criminal trial some witnesses suggested that Lincoln’s relationship with Palazzolo was improper and collusive, but Lincoln’s court victory in his malicious prosecution matter effectively dismissed those suggestions as being without merit.

We apologise for any confusion that may have ensued.

● The delay in running the apology was due to discussions between the parties.