In 2001 Irish expatriate Paul O’Sullivan was appointed as group executive for aviation security at the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa). It was a move that was to have dramatic consequences for O’Sullivan and the man whose nemesis he has become, Jackie Selebi, who had been appointed national commissioner of police just a year earlier.
Not one to do things by half, O’Sullivan proceeded to shake things up at Acsa, in particular at Johannesburg International Airport (JIA).
O’Sullivan’s concerns focused on a company called Khuselani Security, which was dubiously awarded the security contract for Acsa’s airports, including the strategic JIA.
O’Sullivan, backed up by Acsa chairperson Mashudu Ramano, first placed the company on terms and then cancelled the R150-million contract.
The problem was that Khuselani had friends in high places. Khuselani director Noel Ngwenya claimed to be a personal friend of Selebi — something the commissioner recently confirmed — and Ngwenya allegedly promised that O’Sullivan would be dealt with.
Shortly afterwards O’Sullivan suffered two attempts on his life and Ramano found himself the subject of a dawn police raid.
Selebi attempted to stop the cancellation of the contract and met with Acsa chief executive Monhla Hlahla to discuss the matter. O’Sullivan found himself suspended and was then fired, with Hlahla citing a breakdown in the relationship.
O’Sullivan was determined to fight back and wielded his investigative skills to probe Selebi and find out why he had intervened, first to back Khuselani and then to place JIA security under police control.
The former British military intelligence operative zeroed in on some of the organised smuggling networks for which JIA was a crucial gateway.
After Brett Kebble’s murder, O’Sullivan’s obsession crossed paths with the probe being conducted by the Scorpions. Anthony Dormehl was identified as part of the contraband network that Kebble got himself caught up in. Dormehl operated a small-time transport business used on occasion by Agliotti, including for two shipments — one of cigarettes and one of Mandrax — which had been intercepted by law enforcement agencies.
Coincidentally, O’Sullivan was acquainted with Dormehl and set out to ‘turn†him, persuading him to become a state witness in the Scorpions investigation.
It was the tipping point in the whole case. Besides having operated on the fringes of the network for years, Dormehl knew of hashish that was still to be exported. His help led to the drug bust of July 2006 and the arrest of several of the smugglers, some of whom in turn pointed fingers at Stefanos Paparas, Agliotti and Clinton Nassif.
Dormehl provided the first domino to set off a chain reaction that has finally reached Selebi.
O’Sullivan is now out of harm’s way in Europe. He spoke to the Mail & Guardian:
How do you feel about what has happened so far?
I feel completely vindicated. I am disturbed to see that he [Selebi] still gets paid while this matter goes on, which incentivises him to drag it out.
This is not a luxury that any other police officer gets, so it’s favourable treatment for him.
You have been fighting this battle for years — since your removal from Acsa. What has been the personal and professional cost?
This has cost me my life savings. Having to uproot my family and move them to a foreign country for their own safety has also been a massive drain on my resources.
You have played a role in delivering pieces of the investigation puzzle. What were the major breakthroughs you were involved in?
It became obvious to me back in 2004 that state organs, such as the Public Protector and the Independent Complaints Directorate, were not going to do anything, other than assist Selebi, by supplying him with details of my complaints. Accordingly, by mid-2005 I resolved to carry out my own investigations and commenced the business of penetrating Agliotti’s, Paparas’s and Nassif’s organisation.
By the time Brett Kebble was murdered, I had people on the inside who were able to give me relevant data. I knew that we had to use what is commonly known as the ‘domino method†to bring them down, so I chipped away at the bottom and was able to secure the first major success — the massive drugs bust in 2006.
The Scorpions investigation has sometimes appeared slow to secure evidence and witnesses. What were your frustrations in trying to get this matter properly investigated?
I guess it did seem to be very drawn out. The sad part is that while we were waiting for Selebi’s removal, the country was burning and good South Africans were robbed, raped and murdered.
The management of a key witness — Agliotti — has seemed very lax. Do you have any comment?
In hindsight, it is easy to say what could have been done better. However, I am aware of a present and real threat, right now, against Agliotti, and I sincerely hope that no stone is unturned in protecting him from any further late night meetings at hotels, or even worse.
There have been attempts to portray you as some kind of spy acting in the interests of foreign powers or business interests.
I’m not going to respond to these pathetic allegations. Those who know me know how I have served my country over the last 20 years. I am bringing a series of High Court cases which will clearly set the record straight.
What was the low point for you during the last couple of years?
There were far too many ‘low points†over the last seven years for me to start talking about them. I felt like throwing in the towel many times. I believe it was part of God’s plan that I should emigrate to South Africa in the 1980s and that He was preparing me for the real reason I was put on this planet.
My actions will result in the saving of thousands of lives, and the police will now be able to avail of decent leadership of the likes of Tim Williams and others.
It seems Selebi may be the most senior suspect in this matter, but not necessarily the most important to the organised crime networks involved in this case. Who are the others who should be placed under scrutiny and why?
There are many that need to be ‘purged†from the SAPS. My starting point would be Andre Pruis. He was in the unique position of knowing quite a lot about the allegations and yet decided to assist Selebi by getting involved in clandestine activities aimed at putting a stop to my activities.
What should the investigation’s next priority be?
To protect the evidence (and witnesses) they have and to complete the trial against Selebi as soon as possible.
They should then go after all the well-placed individuals who have assisted Selebi. I also hope they will bring John Stratton [Kebble’s associate, wanted in connection with his murder] back from Australia, where he’s busy scamming investors with his latest mining ventures in Africa.