/ 7 April 2011

Campaign to discredit Mdluli, court told

Crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, accused of murdering a rival in 1999, told the court he had evidence that there was a conspiracy against him.

Crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli on Thursday blamed former acting police commissioner Tim Williams and late former Mpumalanga police commissioner Afrika Khumalo as being behind a campaign to discredit him prior to his appointment.

He said some people were using the media against him so he would not be promoted as the divisional commander of crime intelligence.

Mdluli was in possession of a classified report that he said he would make available to the court.

“I declassified it … let it be in the eyes of the country.”

Khumalo had allegedly appointed two members of the murder and robbery unit in Germiston to find “anything on him” prior to his appointment.

Mdluli learned about it from the report. He said Khumalo and Williams had heard he was the frontrunner for the post and was allegedly using the media to discredit him.

Mdluli and three others — Lieutenant Colonel Mtunzi (52), court orderly Samuel Dlomo (49) and Colonel Nkosana Sebastian Ximba (38) — are accused of killing Oupa Ramogibe in 1999.

They are charged with intimidation, three counts of kidnapping, two counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.

He said this was not the first time he had been linked to the killing of Ramogibe. In 2009 two newspapers had claimed he was linked to the killing.

Mdluli said he was appointed by Cabinet and was a lieutenant general, one rank below police National Commissioner Bheki Cele.

He said he had nothing to do with the murder investigation of Ramogibe.

He asked that he be released on bail saying he trusted in the judiciary and would not leave the country.

He intends pleading not guilty to all the charges against him.

“If I’m given bail, I will still be under suspension, there’s nothing I can do to the witnesses, I don’t even know who the witnesses are.”

He said he was not an animal and would not use his police contacts to interfere with them.

“I will abide by the rules of the law. I don’t know where the evidence is so how can I tamper [with] it,” he said in response to a question.

“I had ample time in these 12 years and had many ways to do it but I haven’t.”

He told the court he was on chronic medication, had ulcer and back problems and “I don’t want to be another person to end up in hospital”.

He was referring to Schabir Shaik, on medical parole after being convicted of fraud and corruption.

The case has been postponed to Friday for continuation of the bail application. — Sapa