The head of a suspected mercenary recruitment agency, one other man and a two women were released by the Scorpions in Cape Town on Thursday after being questioned about possibly illegal military activity.
The spokesperson for the National Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Sipho Ngwema, confirmed that the four have been released, but said the investigation is not over and charges could still be laid.
A Scorpions investigator in the Western Cape, Andrew Leask, said the head of the company International Intelligence Risk Management, Jonathon Constable, and the other three were detained for questioning on Tuesday.
They were asked about allegations of contravening the law on foreign military recruitment.
He said the four have supplied written explanations to the allegations that have been levelled at them and they have been released.
Their explanations will be studied before a decision is made on prosecution. Leask said the investigation into the company that recruited staff for work opportunities overseas has been in progress for two months. The company’s possible involvement in illegal military activity outside the country is being looked into, as well as the authenticity of its operations.
He said the Scorpions are also investigating if the claims the company made about providing employment overseas were genuine.
If it is found that the company made false claims, the people who run the company could face fraud charges.
Leask said the company is headed by Constable, who also uses the name Derek Davids.
According to computer files and documentation found on the premises, the company has signed up about 1 500 recruits. — Sapa