Phahlane ‘tried to thwart Ipid probe’
Former Independent Police Investigative Directorate boss Robert McBride claimed on Tuesday that ex-top cop Khomotso Phahlane orchestrated a counter-investigation into the police watchdog to thwart a corruption probe linked to him.
Testifying at the state capture inquiry, McBride gave evidence on the now suspended police commissioner and the “Mabula Team” – a crack group of officers from the North West tasked to investigate Ipid officials, as well as private investigator Paul O’Sullivan and his attorney, Sarah-Jane Trent.
When McBride returned to his office in October 2016 after an almost 18-month suspension, he received a request from O’Sullivan for an update on a case he had reported to Ipid in McBride’s absence.
The case dealt with allegations of corruption and money laundering against Phahlane, who was said to have received millions in kickbacks from service providers for the police.
A task team was set up to investigate the allegations, comprisingIpid officials Mandla Mahlangu, Temane Binang, Mantsha Raphesu and Cedrick Nkabinde.
The team was tasked to probe the construction of Phahlane’s exclusive Sable Hills estate home, allegedly funded by a police service provider, as well as vehicles in his and his family’s possession.
In January 2017, Phahlane’s house was raided.
“Phahlane, in 2017, launched a challenge for the search warrant,” Mc Bride said.
“A response was given and Phahlane identified a number of technical issues.
“The matter lay dormant for almost 18 months.
“On the removal of Nkabinde from the task team, we became aware that Phahlane was initiating and attempting to reenrol that initial search warrant challenge based on testimony he got from Nkabinde.
“As a result of the visit to Sable Hills estate, a complaint was initiated within the police by Phahlane that there was a security breach at his house.
“He requested acting divisional commissioner [Agnes Makhele] and North West provincial commissioner [Baile Motswenyane] to establish a team to investigate the security breach. [Phahlane] also contacted [Ntebo Mabula] and his team from North West.
“An investigation was carried out by crime intelligence. A record of that investigation has gone missing.
“The Mabula Team moved to Gauteng. Their only purpose for being there was dealing with O’Sullivan, Trent and Ipid,” McBride said.
This eventually led to O’Sullivan and Trent, and separately two Ipid task team members, being arrested on “trumped up charges”. –