Justice bosses slam Pikoli over Zuma, Selebi probes

Essentially arguing that Pikoli ‘took the NPA’s independence from the government too far’, Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla and Director-General Menzi Simelane have criticised the prosecuting authority’s handling of its investigations into ANC president Jacob Zuma and suspended National Police Commissioner Jacki Selebi. A report in The Mercury says Mabandla’s and Simelane’s complaints are expected to provide Zuma’s and Selebi’s legal teams with fresh ammunition in their respective pending legal battles to have the corruption cases against them permanently halted. Advocate Fanus Coetzee, who is acting for Selebi, said yesterday that the police chief’s legal team was ‘still considering’ asking for access to the state’s complaints against Pikoli. ‘We are keeping a close eye on any and all relevant documentation,’ he said. The Mercury says it has also established that Zuma’s legal team will this week attempt to obtain access to the state’s complaints about the Scorpions’ investigation into their client. Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)

The NPA has asked acting National Police Commissioner Tim Williams to help prosecute Selebi. The acting National Director of Public Prosecutions, Mokotedi Mpshe asked Williams for Selebi’s diaries in a letter dated 17 January, four working days after Selebi was put on extended leave of absence by President Thabo Mbeki, says a report in City Press. Mpshe believes crucial evidence can also be gleaned from the diaries of Selebi’s head of intelligence, Raymond Lalla, a Commissioner Mphego, a Director Hankel, Senior Superintendent Manie Viktor and Captain Morné Nel. Mpshe’s request to Williams, titled ‘Documents required from the SAPS for the purposes of finalising the investigation’, also says the NPA requires ‘documents that indicate times, dates, destinations of international and local travels of Selebi (such as customs documents, transport rental, boarding passes) for the period 1 January 2000 to date’. The suspended National Police commissioner faces charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice when he appears in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court on Friday. Full City Press report