The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigation Directorate’s head of investigations and operations, Mathew Sesoko, is allegedly protecting his senior investigating officers Dylan Perumal and Sergeant Sunnel Bellochun, from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
This after Ipid’s investigator attempted to get warning statements from the pair.
The duo is alleged to have harassed and tortured Lorretta Joubert on November 29, 2018.
Joubert alleges that she was assaulted by the two officers during the execution of a search warrant..
She further alleges that she was later transported to Opera Plaza building in Pretoria, where she was tortured, intimidated and mishandled by all the pair.
In her written letter to National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola and Parliament she detailed how she constantly has suicidal thoughts due to the traumatic encounter she had with Bellochun and Perumal.
Joubert said the two were abusing their powers as law enforcement officials, which their sole mandate of torture and intimidation.
“I have attached a copy of my statement as per ‘Annexure A’. which is self explanatory regarding the misuse and abuse of power by these very same members whose only modus operandi is to threaten and torture their so-called accused/witnesses to obtain 204 statements.
“I too was refused legal representation when this team interrogated me for two days thereby violating my constitutional rights,” she added..
Joubert said it been two years since she laid a complaint with Ipid, which has not yet been finalised
“It is two years... I have made numerous enquiries regarding the status of my case docket, to Ipid and the SAPS, of which no information has been forthcoming – only to learn from an inside source that this very same team has taken the docket to the Eastern Cape unlawfully and illegally.
“The members concerned are as follows: Sgt Suneel Bellochun, Dylan Perumal, Captain Le Roux, Captain Taai, Sgt Nico Williams, Sgt A Mazibukwana, Sgt AP Mbolo, Col van Staaden, Charity Matlou and Ravi Pillay”.
A source inside Ipid told this publication that they were employees with the watchdog who were in cahoots with Sesokoe to protect the police in question.
The source alleged that the mole in Ipid was Hlengani Bila, its head of investigations.
“Sesokoe used to be Bila’s boss while he was at Ipid and they had a ‘bullying relationship’, so Bila still reports to him.
“They are tring to frustrate the case and undermine executive director Jennifer Ntlatseng. Sesoko and Jennifer don’t see eye to eye, hence Sesokoe wants to sabotage her,” the source said.
The source continued to say that a lot was at stake on this case hence they wanted it to be squashed.
When questioned about the allegations Bila said Ipid’s spokesperson Pheladi Shuping would furnish the publication with responses but failed to do so by the time of publication.
However, Ipid executive director Ntlatseng said she would look into the matter and respond accordingly.
“Good day, Sir, I will definitely intervene and respond accordingly,” she concluded.
However, ID’s spokesperson Henry Mamothame said there was nothing untoward with ID’s head of investigation’s involvement in the matter.
“IDAC stands by its initial response that, We engage with colleagues from Ipid professionally and nothing illegal has been done in our interface with them,” Mamothame said.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu through his spokesperson told “The Star” that Ipid has advised that investigations were still under way and as the Ministry, they have committed their support to all entities, as and when required.
“Ipid's mandate is to carry out independent investigations into the actions of police officers to ensure that police officers promote respect for the rule of law and human dignity.
“Ipid has delivered on its mandate and we are confident that they will continue to do so,” Mchunu said.
On the question of what his office would do to ensure there were repercussions from police officers who defied Ipid’s orders, he said there were measures in place to deal with such instances and where ministerial guidance and intervention were required, it would be given.
The minister further said that section 205 of the Constitution contains provisions relating to the police service.
“Further to that, members of the service are bound by a code of conduct which outlines their duties and conduct – the reason why they serve.
“As mentioned, Ipid has delivered on its mandate and we are confident that they will continue to do so –no police officer is above the law..“
Earlier this year President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Ipid Amendment Bill which aimed to expand the organisation’s mandate to investigate serious crimes committed by law enforcement officers, whether on or off duty.
The amendments were prompted by the Constitutional Court’s ruling in the McBride v minister of police and another case, which invalidated provisions allowing the minister of police to take disciplinary measures against the Ipid executive director, at the time, without parliamentary oversight.
The Star