The arrest of Gauteng Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel is a witch-hunt to protect police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi, said the Democratic Alliance on Wednesday.
Nel is heading the Scorpions’ case against Selebi.
”The axing of [suspended National Prosecuting Authority head] Vusi Pikoli and now Gerrie Nel has all the appearance of a witch-hunt to protect Selebi,” said DA spokesperson on Safety and Security Dianne Kohler Barnard.
”The fact that it allegedly took 20 armed policemen to serve the warrant on Nel further reinforces this,” she said.
Nel, the regional head of the Directorate of Special Operations or the Scorpions, was arrested at his Pretoria home in front of his wife and children at roughly 9pm on Tuesday by about 20 armed policemen.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini said Nel faced five charges including fraud, defeating the ends of justice and perjury.
The charges are apparently related to offences allegedly committed between 2004 and 2005.
The DA was deeply concerned that Nel had been arrested while Selebi remained free, said Kohler Barnard.
”This arrest gives the impression that our criminal justice system favours some and not others.
”It is revealing to see that the wheels of justice seem to turn much faster in Nel’s case, yet drag on for ever with Selebi. Are we not all equal before the law?”
Kohler-Barnard said the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) silence on whether it planned to charge Selebi or not did nothing to dispel fears Nel’s arrest was somehow connected to the case.
”The DA repeats its calls for the NPA to make its decision public and bring this damaging silence to an immediate end.”
On Wednesday, acting head of the NPA Mokotedi Mpshe told 702 Talk Radio the decision about whether to charge Selebi would be made public before the end of the month.
Mpshe said he was shocked and disappointed by the arrest but that it would not affect the Selebi case.
Political consequences
African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) president Reverend Kenneth Meshoe said on Wednesday that Mpshe should be replaced if a decision to prosecute Selebi was not taken soon.
”If the responsible individuals in the NPA are unable to inform the public and to prosecute the National Police Commissioner as is widely expected, because of fears of political consequences, then they must be replaced by courageous individuals who will not allow fear to stop them from fulfilling their duties.”
Meshoe said the ACDP hoped the arrest of Nel would not intimidate the NPA from proceeding against Selebi.
Nel was granted bail of R10 000 in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday afternoon.
Magistrate Peet Johnson agreed to postpone the matter to January 14 on the condition that Nel would not interfere in the investigation.
Police also carried out a raid on Nel’s house on Wednesday. Apparently nothing was taken. – Sapa