The police chief who is in hot water over Tony Yengeni’s arrest for drunken driving believes there is “something fishy” about attempts to oust him.

“I’m sticking to my story,” Senior Superintendent Siphiwo Hewana told The Times yesterday. “I want them to take this to court. I’m ready for them.”

Hewana, head of Goodwood police station, where the former ANC chief whip was charged, was given 48 hours’ notice on Tuesday that he was to be suspended.

The provincial commissioner of police, Mzwandile Petros, accused Hewana of giving him conflicting accounts of when Yengeni was arrested after crashing his car: by one account at 9 pm on Sunday November 25, by another on Monday November 26 at half an hour past midnight.

Hewana had told reporters that Yengeni was arrested at 9pm on November 25 but his blood was tested only three-and-a-half hours later — which could sabotage the case against him.

Blood samples must be taken within two hours of an arrest to be admitted as evidence in court.

Hewana said he had sent his response to Petros yesterday.

“I denied everything,” he said. “I never changed the time. There’s something fishy about this.”

Asked what he meant by “something fishy”, Hewana said: “I can’t tell you that or you will tell the whole world.

“I’ll keep it as my secret weapon.”

Hewana, who started his police career in the Ciskei homeland in 1981, said he had no reason to try to protect Yengeni.

Yengeni was placed under correctional supervision in January after five months in jail for fraud related to the arms deal. His parole conditions say he must not abuse alcohol.

He is due in court on March 19.

With acknowledgements to Anton Ferreira and The Times.