The Madlanga Commission has questioned the basis on which the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) launched an investigation into senior Crime Intelligence officers over allegations that they siphoned money from the secret service account.
Senior IDAC investigator Colonel Brian Padayachee told the Commission that he is the lead investigator in the matter.
Crime Intelligence Head, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, Major General Philani Lushaba and Nosipho Madondo were arrested in June last year following a Section 27 referral affidavit submitted by Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams.
Commissioner Sesi Baloyi challenged Padayachee on whether the referral contained sufficient grounds to justify an investigation, saying the affidavit did not explain the basis for suspecting money had been siphoned from the Secret Service Account.
Commissioner Baloyi: “Where does that suspicion come from? He doesn’t say that. Why do you say this is the basis to investigate the secret fund, secret service fund?”
Padayachee: “Commissioner, I’m finding it hard to explain it in a way that I understand it and taking it from the document and my understanding of crime intelligence too, as well. The secret service fund is open out there for many years, for more than three decades.”
Commissioner Baloyi: “I’m going to stop you. I’m going to stop you because my question has nothing to do with the historical operations of the secret service fund.”
Madlanga Commission | IDAC’s Brian Padayachee testifies: Canny Maphanga reports
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