Police claim that a commander tried to get serious charges dropped against relatives, reports Angella Johnson
Fresh evidence of police involvement in top crime syndicates emerged this week with allegations that Charlie Landman, suspended acting commander of the Brixton Murder and Robbery Unit, has close links with two brothers said to be among South Africa’s biggest dealers in hijacked and stolen goods.
Detectives say Nelio and Roger Dinis, who have been charged with theft and receiving stolen property, had been protected by Landman. The controversial and flamboyant superintendent, temporarily relieved of his post earlier this year, is currently being tried on corruption charges.
Captain William Douglas of the Isando truck-hijacking unit in Johannesburg claims the brothers are related to Landman through marriage and that on at least two occasions he tried to influence charges laid against them.
The Dinises, who allegedly run a multi-million rand crime syndicate in Gauteng, are due to stand trial in February. Nelio (23) faces seven counts of theft involving stolen goods worth R2,8-million found in a warehouse last year, and one of armed robbery for a R1,5-million truck heist in 1993. Roger (24) is alleged to have been involved in the theft of furniture in 1992 ‘ a charge which was initially dropped but will now be refiled.
Douglas says Landman arranged a low bail for Nelio after his arrest by Free State police in connection with the hijacking of a container truck (in which the driver was killed). ‘He said they were family and asked for bail to be set at R5 000.’
Superintendent Marius Lubbe, the Isando commander, says Landman also approached members of his unit after the 1995 arrest, while Nelio Dinis was being fingerprinted, and tried to get him released. ‘He told the arresting sergeant they should make a plan to let Dinis go, but it was rejected.’
The sergeant made a statement about the incident which was passed to a senior officer now heading investigations into ‘third-force’ activities. It is not clear if an internal investigation followed, but no action was taken.
Landman and two rogue former police operatives ‘ Ferdi Barnard (one-time member of the Civil Co-operation Bureau assassination squad) and Gert Marais (once a detective with Brixton Murder and Robbery Unit) ‘ are being tried for conspiring to have a counterfeit-dollar investigation against businessman Fanie Nel quashed in exchange for a R20 000 bribe.
Landman’s counsel, advocate Danie Dorfman, said this week his client could not comment on any allegations similar to the corruption charges he faced as this might prejudice the trial, which has been adjourned until February.
Police are hoping the Dinises’ trial will open at Johannesburg Regional Court, also in February, after protracted defence delays.
Lubber alleged that the brothers either bribed drivers to deliver stolen goods to rented warehouses or organised gangs to hijack loaded trucks.
In 1995, he said, an informant revealed that the Dinises were using a warehouse situated behind the Kaserne police truck-theft unit in Prolecon, Johannesburg.
Detectives from Isando set up observation points for two days and nights. Nelio was arrested after he had collected goods and delivered them to a residential garage in Sandton. The warehouse was crammed with an assortment of stolen goods from some 13 trucks ‘ including jewellery and costumes destined for the 1995 Miss Universe contest.
The brothers were granted bail of R75 000 each, which was paid within an hour.
Lubber says drivers are paid not to identify the robbers in the event of an arrest. As receivers do not get their hands dirty by actually taking part in a hijacking, they can only be charged with theft or handling stolen goods which carry a fine or suspended sentence on conviction.
‘That is why we have not had one receiver go to jail since this unit started four years ago,’ Lubber said.
‘Hijackers can get up to 15 years’ sentence, but [receivers] just go to court and pay their fine with a smile and continue to commit crimes until we arrest them again.’
He says clean South African Police Service members were becoming increasingly disillusioned at the ease with which top syndicate leaders were able to escape punishment.
In the past week it has emerged that documents being held by Andre de Vries, attorney general of the Witwatersrand, show that some senior officers were running a huge syndicate inside the police force, perpetrating crimes such as murder, fraud and theft.
Three officers from the West Rand were arrested last Friday on charges of murder following a special anti-corruption drive instigated by National Police Commissioner George Fivaz.
It is also alleged that there has been a widespread cover-up, including the destruction of documentary evidence, to thwart investigations into ‘third-force’ activity.