/ 24 April 2000

POWELL LEAVES SA MID-PROBE

EMBATTLED Inkatha Freedom Party MPL Phillip Powell has left the country mid-way through an investigation into his role in an illegal arms deals conducted by the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions. Meanwhile, the office of National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka this week said Powell has not been granted indemnity from possible future prosecution in connection with the arms cache. He said Powell did not make a “full disclosure” when in a sensational pre-election development last year, he led investigators to the cache buried in Nqutu, 50km from Ulundi. Asked to comment, IFP national representative Reverend Musa Zondi said Powell was on study leave. “He has his passport, why can’t he go?” Zondi asked.