Bheki Jacobs famed for producing intelligent rumours about plots to overthrow President Thabo Mbeki is being investigated by police on suspicion of "conspiracy to commit murder".

This is hardly surprising given that Jacobs is known as a man who sees the world through conspiracy lenses.

Many questions arise as to who he is and what his links are to the African National Congress (ANC) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). At some point he seems to have been taken seriously by high-ranking officials in both organisations. But then shunned by both.

Nothing about Jacobs is clear. Even his name is a matter of dispute. He has gone by at least three other names.

He appears to have links to the world of intelligence. At best he is described as a highly trained former ANC intelligence operative.

Jacobs was born in Durban and completed his schooling in Cape Town. In the mid-1980s he went into exile and, if he is to be believed, ended up in the Soviet Union.

He is described as paranoid, even delusional. He told acquaintances he was Mbeki's secret agent keeping an eye on MPs.

Another of his rumours include a plot by former ANC general secretary Cyril Ramaphosa involving Anglo American and De Beers to ensure Mbeki did not serve a second term.

He is also rumoured to have been the principal author of a report into corruption allegations in the arms deal, in which many high-ranking ANC officials including deputy president Jacob Zuma have been implicated.

A top-ranking police official says the fact that Jacobs speaks openly about his intelligence training casts aspersions on his character. "People who were in exile and underwent intelligence training never volunteer that information easily," he says

With acknowledgements to Nontyatyambo Petros and the Business Day.