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NPA members to face charges over spy tapes? |
| Publication |
Cape Argus |
| Date | 2009-04-05 |
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Web Link |
Some members of the National Prosecuting Authority, and some other people, could
face criminal charges for unlawfully influencing the case against ANC leader
Jacob Zuma.
It has also emerged that a cabinet minister's cellphone was allegedly used
during an intercepted conversation between former president Thabo Mbeki and
Leonard McCarthy, the former Scorpions chief.
It is understood that Mbeki spoke to McCarthy on the cabinet minister's phone to
discuss, among other things, McCarthy's employment prospects at the World Bank.
McCarthy now heads the bank's integrity unit.
But there is no evidence to suggest that the minister in question was involved
in any conspiracy on the Zuma case. The Sunday Independent is in possession of
the minister's name but has withheld it because the information was provided by
a source and not from the actual recordings.
The minister on Saturday denied any involvement in allowing Mbeki to use the
cellphone and also denied any "involvement in these conspiracies".
Mbeki has since denied any wrongdoing, while McCarthy could not be reached for
comment.
The controversial tapes mysteriously landed in the hands of Zuma's defence team
and were part of a bombshell that has forced the NPA to decide to drop charges
against Zuma on Monday.
ANC lawyers were apparently informed on Thursday that the charges would be
dropped, and ruling party supporters spontaneously celebrated on the streets of
Johannesburg on Friday.
Tlali Tlali, the NPA spokesperson, said on Saturday that they were still
considering whether the information from Zuma's representation warranted further
investigation.
"If, on the basis of information we received (from Zuma), there are allegations
that conduct on the part of certain individuals amounts to criminal conduct,
then such information will be referred to other law enforcement agencies to
conduct investigations," Tlali said.
It is not clear if the "individuals" Tlali refers to are those who conducted the
illegal interception or those who were intercepted allegedly colluding against
Zuma.
Bantu Holomisa, the United Democratic Movement leader, said on Friday that the
NPA would "be referring some aspects of this matter to the police for 'further
investigation'. But (these are) the same police who have been wrongfully
investigating NPA staff and displaying their partisan bias by leaking illegal
surveillance to Mr Zuma".
Director Sally de Beer, the police spokesperson, said on Saturday they had not
received any request from the NPA to "launch any investigation".
Meanwhile, Zuma steered clear of the controversial subject when he addressed
thousands of Shembe church followers in the West Rand on Saturday.
"We are here to ask that the Lord's grace protect us as we go to the elections,"
he said, "because as political leaders we sometimes do things that create
tension and we don't see eye to eye."