The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption’s (IDAC) chief investigator, Dylan Perumal, has been accused of fabricating statements attributed to MP Fadiel Adams in an alleged attempt to strengthen cases against Crime Intelligence officials.
The claims emerged at the Madlanga Commission on Monday during the testimony of outgoing IDAC head Advocate Andrea Johnson.
This comes after two members of Perumal’s investigative team rejected the authenticity of statements he submitted as evidence in court proceedings and before the commission.
Advocate Drushanta Ramsamy and investigator Mantsha Raphesu submitted recorded voice notes to the commission disputing the statements attributed to Adams.
Both investigators maintained that the documents relied on by Perumal were not the statements obtained during a joint interview with the MP in Cape Town on January 6.
The visit was part of an investigation into Adams’ complaint alleging fraud and corruption within Crime Intelligence.
His complaint names Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, Brigadier Dineo Mokwele and other senior officials, accusing them of corruption, abuse of state resources, intimidation, interference in investigations and irregular appointments.
Despite that, the commission heard that Perumal later submitted an additional statement, marked as “A1”, as evidence in related legal proceedings and before the commission.
Ramsamy questioned how two different versions of Adams’ statements could have been produced when investigators worked together throughout the interview.
“Why would two investigating officers sitting in the same boardroom have taken two different statements on the same day? I can confirm that in my presence there were only four statements taken. They were the four supplementary affidavits which I have provided to you,” she said.
Raphesu also disputed the document, saying the affidavit could not have been obtained on the recorded date.
“This A1 could not have been possible because on that day we only obtained the supplementaries. So there was no way Dylan could have obtained that affidavit on that day,” he said.
The allegations prompted concern from co-commissioner Sandile Khumalo, who said the evidence pointed to potentially serious misconduct.
Johnson did not dispute the investigators’ accounts and agreed that the chronology presented to the commission did not appear procedurally possible.
“Procedurally it does not make sense. What might have made sense is the four statements to be taken.
“If perhaps Perumal took two and Raphesu took two. But you cannot have one team together, same day, same place,” Johnson said.
It’s unclear when Perumal will appear before the commission.
Johnson is expected to resume her testimony on Tuesday.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
IOL Politics
Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.
