/ 2 September 2010

Court reserves judgement in Glenister’s Scorpions bid

The Constitutional Court has reserved judgement in the case of businessman Hugh Glenister, who was challenging the disbanding of the Scorpions.

The Constitutional Court reserved judgement on Thursday in the case of businessman Hugh Glenister, who was challenging the disbanding of the Scorpions special investigations unit.

SABC radio reported that Glenister asked the court to declare invalid the two laws used to dissolve the independent Scorpions and create a new unit within the South African Police Service.

Glenister, supported by the Helen Suzman Foundation, said the passing of the laws through Parliament was unconstitutional.

He argued that in terms of international agreements, South Africa had to have an independent investigative body to probe corruption.

Since 2008, Glenister has been in and out of courts to fight the scrapping of the unit, which was instrumental in investigating now-convicted former police chief Jackie Selebi for corruption.

The Scorpions, who also investigated President Jacob Zuma for corruption at one stage, were disbanded in 2008.

So far, none of Glenister’s court actions have been successful. — Sapa