Gaye Davis and Rehana Rossouw
THE policeman at the centre of the row over allegations that the National Intelligence Agency was spying on top policemen will not be undergoing a lie-detector test, police said this week. Crime Investigation Service spokesman, senior superintendent Faizel Kader, said superintendent H Moodley had volunteered for a polygraph test, but that the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Council (Nicoc) had, after interviewing him, `deemed it unnecessary’. Moodley’s claim that former security policeman Dirk Coetzee — now an NIA operative — had told him he had been assigned by deputy minister of intelligence, Joe Nhlanhla, to spy on top policemen sparked a major row earlier this month. Coetzee, who denied it, recently took, and passed, a lie-detector test. Nicoc deputy co-ordinator Moe Shaik this week refused to divulge the reasons for not subjecting Moodley to a similar test. `We can’t release any information about our investigation until the report has been handed to President Mandela and Deputy President Thabo Mbeki,’ he said. However, the decision could indicate that Nicoc investigators, after interviewing Moodley, were able to arrive at a hard-and-fast decision on the truth of his allegations. Lie-detector tests are commonly used where there is doubt about whether a subject is lying. While no SAPS member can be compelled to undergo a lie-detector test, the National Crime Investigation Service (CIS) intends including polygraph tests in a range of tests for police officers in key positions. `The cost factor will determine how many police officers are to be tested,’ Kader said. Police were negotiating the present cost of between R300 and R400 a shot. `The SAPS does not want to create a monopoly by granting one specific company the contract and we are currently negotiating with various companies.’ The possibility of establishing an SAPS polygraph unit was also being investigated. Last year national police commissioner George Fivaz, CIS Commissioner Wouter Grov, and senior members of the Vehicle Theft Unit underwent tests in a pilot programme. All passed. Kader said much depended on the training and interpretation of the polygraphist. `Although this is regarded as being very useful supportive technology, it was never our intention to rely solely on polygraph tests for any vetting or investigative purpose. It does, however, give a strong indication of where one should focus attention and look at an individual’s background in more depth.’ The validity of polygraph tests had never been tested in a South African court and police had no intention of prosecuting anyone solely on the strength of such a test. `If police officers are found to be lying, no specific steps can be taken against them, except for the fact that it will make the process of evaluating evidence and testimony easier and ultimately will have a definite influence on the vetting, selection and investigative
Psychometric tests used by police indicated whether candidates had the right personality and aptitude for a particular position. Fingerprinting was also done. * NICOC’s report on the spy scandal is understood to be completed.