The legal team of arrested Gauteng Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel began an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday for his release.
”The police did not play open cards when they asked for his arrest,” said Nel’s lawyer Ian Small Smith shortly before the application. Nel was not at the court.
Nel was leading the investigation into corruption allegations against police National Commissioner Jackie Selebi.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini said the charges included perjury, fraud and ”defeating the ends of justice”.
Moketedi Mpshe, acting head of the National Prosecuting Authority, told Talk Radio 702 the arrest had nothing to do with Nel’s conduct in the politically sensitive Selebi case and would have no bearing on whether the police chief is charged.
The prosecuting authority has also charged Jacob Zuma, the new president of the African National Congress (ANC), with corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering. He is due to stand trial in August.
Senior ANC leaders questioned the integrity of the prosecuting authority on Tuesday, saying there was a political motivation for the charges against Zuma — who defeated Mbeki to win the party leadership election last month.
Trading accusations
Mpshe said the case against Nel dated back to a trial two or three years ago in which he testified against a member of the Scorpions..
”I was just shocked and disappointed,” Mpshe said of Nel’s arrest.
Asked if the arrest would influence the decision on whether to charge Selebi, Mpshe said: ”Certainly not. It won’t at all.” He said a decision on whether to prosecute Selebi would be announced by the end of the month.
The Selebi investigation has the potential to damage South Africa’s reputation at a time when it is trying to persuade sceptics that it can reduce high levels of violent crime ahead of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Selibi, who is also the president of Interpol, has been accused of downplaying the severity of the country’s crime problem and has raised eyebrows by acknowledging his friendship with convicted drug smuggler Glenn Agliotti.
Agliotti, dubbed ”the landlord”, has been charged with the 2005 murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble. Nel was a member of the team that investigated the gangland-style shooting.
Mbeki has stood by Selebi despite calls by the opposition for his dismissal, prompting allegations he was being protected for political reasons.
News of Nel’s arrest quickly generated emotional responses on radio talk shows from the public, which has grown tired of rampant crime, widespread poverty and an HIV/Aids epidemic as Zuma and Mbeki supporters battle it out.
One caller suggested Nel was arrested because he is white, another complained that South Africa is lawless. – Reuters