/ 2 November 2007

Scorpions boss in fraud probe

Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel is under police investigation for fraud and corruption, the Star reported on Friday.

Nel led the investigation into the shooting of mining magnate Brett Kebble and led the state’s aborted probe into alleged criminal activity by police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi.

The prosecutor was the focus of a police investigation headed by one of the Gauteng province’s top cops, Commissioner Richard Mdluli, the report said.

It said acting national director of public prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe on Thursday held a high level Scorpions meeting in Cape Town where the case against Nel, and the possible reasons behind it, had topped the agenda.

The newspaper reported that two of the complaints against Nel were made by one of his own investigators, Andrew du Plooy.

Du Plooy, who helped to expose allegedly corrupt former members of the unit, Cornwell Tshavhungwa and Geophrey Ledwaba, had opened a docket against Nel and investigator Piet Pieterse at the Silverton police station in Tshwane this year, the report said.

This was after Du Plooy had reported a complaint against the two men in 2006.

Police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini declined to comment on the case saying he had not been able to speak to Mdluli — after the Star had enquired about it since Tuesday this week. – Sapa