Andrea Johnson, who is tipped to lead the NPA’s Investigating Directorate, is being probed about suspicious calls to fraud-accused James Ramanjalum’s cellphone
Prosecutor Andrea Johnson, who was shortlisted to head the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in 2018, and is currently earmarked to lead its internal investigating unit, is embroiled in cover-up allegations stemming from suspicious calls with an allegedly corrupt cop.
The NPA has confirmed that Johnson submitted an affidavit on Wednesday explaining phone conversations she had with Brigadier James Ramanjalum, who faces a range of procurement fraud and corruption charges worth nearly R193-million in two separate cases, after his June 2020 arrest in a separate graft case that has since been struck off the court roll.
The NPA’s confirmation of an inquiry into Johnson’s conversations with Ramanjalum follows claims from three well-placed sources in the authority that the phone calls occurred after the police officer was arrested on 4 June 2020, when the arresting officers could not locate his cellphone to seize for potential evidence.
“Since June 2020, investigators have not been able to locate Ramanjalum’s cellphone to download the information on it. But phone records show that one of the people he was in contact with shortly after his arrest was Johnson,” said a source, who asked to remain anonymous.
Ramanjalum’s 2020 arrest, together with 14 other people including eight officers, related to an allegedly corrupt R54-million tender to brand police vehicles nationally. The case was, however, struck off the roll last year.
The Mail & Guardian has established from NPA insiders that Johnson is set to be announced as the new head of the Investigating Directorate, a position that has been vacant since advocate Hermione Cronje’s resignation in December.
The directorate was established within the NPA in 2018 by President Cyril Ramaphosa as a specialised unit to investigate and prosecute intricate commercial crimes.
Ramanjalum is a former supply-chain management head at the South African Police Services’ Tshwane headquarters, and is currently in custody after being arrested and denied bail in February for his alleged role in suspected R1.9-million Covid-19-related procurement graft.
He is also implicated in the R191-million fraud and corruption case that involves former national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, around a 2016 contract to brand and equip Gauteng police vehicles.
The M&G understands that NPA head Shamila Batohi ordered an investigation into Johnson after claims that sensitive matters related to Ramanjalum’s criminal cases were being discussed with the prosecutor.
“Johnson has claimed that the calls [in 2020] were made to her by Ramanjalum’s daughter to inform her of her father’s arrest. It was also well known within the NPA that investigators needed Ramanjalum’s cellphone for evidence,” said another source, who also asked to remain anonymous.
“So, it is strange that it would emerge almost two months later from records that Johnson knew that Ramanjalum’s phone was active after his arrest.”
Johnson’s ‘integrity’
However, NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga expressed confidence in Johnson and her “integrity”, saying the prosecutor had disclosed to the authority the nature of her calls with Ramanjalum.
“We are fully aware of the circumstances relating to the calls made to Johnson. There is nothing untoward about these calls and we have full confidence in Johnson and her integrity,” Mhaga said.
“She will not conduct herself in any way unbecoming of a prosecutor, or in any manner that will bring the NPA into disrepute. She is a seasoned advocate and has not, and will not, be so careless or irresponsible to discuss a matter with any accused and has not done so at any stage of her career.”
Mhaga said Johnson and Ramanjalum had a professional relationship before his arrests and they had “developed a working relationship as colleagues from two stakeholders within the criminal justice system”.
“In short, Johnson and Ramanjalum worked closely in a co-ordinating legal team of the SAPS. This team comprised several divisional commissioners of the police and other senior police officials, [including] officials from DCS [department of correctional services], home affairs and the department of health.
“Information relating to the calls made is contained in a formal affidavit by Johnson that has been provided to the investigators in the matter. The affidavit explains the background and details of the calls” Mhaga added.
Johnson, who is part of the NPA’s priority crimes litigation unit, has been involved in several high-profile successful prosecutions, including the corruption conviction of former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi in July 2010, and the conviction of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius for the February 2013 murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
The M&G could not contact Ramanjalum, because he is in custody. His lawyer, Glen Malanga, said he could not comment as he had not yet taken instructions from his client.
[/membership]