Bosses ‘used safe houses to entertain family, friends’
Crime Intelligence abuse allegations
THE Zondo Commission of Inquiry Into Allegations of State Capture has heard how properties leased by the police crime intelligence unit for use as safe houses were actually used exclusively by crime intelligence officials.
Crime intelligence officer Colonel Dhanajaya Naidoo testified for the third day and continued detailing the alleged looting of crime intelligence’s secret service fund. It was meant to finance the intelligence work of crime intelligence officers, but was used to fund the lifestyles of senior police officials, he said.
Naidoo testified via audio link as he has been in witness protection for the past 11 years after he blew the whistle on the looting of the slush fund. He has admitted that he aided the looting and benefited from it.
Yesterday, he focused on the abuse of properties leased and owned by crime intelligence.
Naidoo spoke of properties leased in Ballito and another in an area called Rock Island that was used by crime intelligence officers to entertain their families and friends.
“This facility belonged to the state and it is situated in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The only way to get to this premises is with a 4X4,” Naidoo said.
“General (Solly) Lazarus (the financial officer of the account) and I, and numerous other officials, visited the premises and we would go there for holidays over Christmas and school holidays. State vehicles were used on these trips.
“The visits would be recorded as official trips,” Naidoo said.
Crime intelligence officers also leased out properties they owned to the unit to be used as safe houses for financial benefit. Former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli’s two-bedroom flat located in an exclusive complex in Cape Town was rented by crime intelligence. Mdluli pocketed R8000 a month.
The property was registered as belonging to Mdluli’s friend, John Appalsamy.
“I was informed by Lazarus that Mdluli wanted us (crime intelligence) to rent his flat as a safe house. I was instructed by Lazarus to fly to Cape Town with Appalsamy, who was his personal friend,” Naidoo said.
The crime intelligence secret account also rented a safe house in Clearwater Estate in Boksburg, which was used exclusively by Mdluli. Naidoo said furniture for the property cost R100000, and Mdluli demanded that the house be stocked with groceries.
Naidoo also told the commission about a group of unskilled agents who were appointed solely because they were related to Mdluli and Lazarus.
Mdluli had seven family members employed as agents in various positions.
Naidoo said Lazarus appointed a relative of his who was a former police officer in KwaZulu-Natal and who had been convicted of corruption. He said an estimated R5 million was spent between 2010 and 2011 on supporting these agents with salaries and benefits. Some earned R50000 a month.
He said some of the agents often failed to report for duty.
“On numerous occasions they would not be in the office – they would be at home or at the mall shopping. I know this because when I called them they would tell me they were at the mall,” he said.
Naidoo said some of the agents were appointed to the crime intelligence cybercrime centre, but they lacked the skills for such roles and had to be taken for training, which cost R20 000.
“I was responsible for setting up an internet café that cost R75 000. Chair, I do not think they had any particular level of computer skill. They went for a very basic training course.
“This particular unit where they were based was a cybercrime unit and I believe they needed the experience to work in this environment,” Naidoo said.
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Mdluli wanted us to rent his flat as a safe
house
Dhanajaya CRIME INTELLIGENCE Naidoo