Police chief threatens to sue over Ipid raid

Acting National Police Commissioner Khomotso Phahlane has slammed the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) following a raid at his Pretoria home, saying via his spokesperson that the investigation was an assault on his character and integrity, notes Legalbrief. ‘The acting National Commissioner has briefed his lawyers to take this matter forward‚’ spokesperson Sally De Beer told the media. A Business Day report says Ipid raided Phahlane’s house to search for evidence of suspected corruption. This was after the directorate obtained a search warrant from the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court. It is understood investigators were searching for an R80 000 sound system, which was allegedly installed by a service provider who it is claimed has a contract with the police forensic science laboratory. At the heart of the probe is Phahlane’s R8m home in a luxury estate north of Pretoria. Allegations are that he acquired the property using the proceeds of corruption. It is claimed Phahlane received bribes during his tenure at the laboratory. Phahlane is also facing a charge of defeating the ends of justice for allegedly contacting witnesses when he learnt Ipid was looking into his property. He allegedly told the estate’s manager not to co-operate with the watchdog’s investigation. De Beer said ‘a media circus was conducted at his place of residence including the spreading of propaganda through the electronic media’. She said it was against this background that Phahlane considered the ‘entire investigation’ an assault on his character and integrity aimed at ‘irreparably damaging’ his reputation.