UPDATE: SAPS confirms Johnson and Khan arrested over alleged interference in 2018 assault case - IOL
Former IDAC head advocate Andrea Johnson and dismissed former Crime Intelligence boss Major-General Feroz Khan have been arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to interfere with a 2018 assault case.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed the arrest of former Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head advocate Andrea Johnson and dismissed former Crime Intelligence boss Feroz Khan in connection with an alleged attempt to interfere with a 2018 assault case.
The arrests relate to allegations of defeating the ends of justice, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and contraventions of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Act.
SAPS national spokesperson Amanda Van Wyk confirmed the arrests during a media briefing in Pretoria on Friday.
βThe Commission's Recommendations Task Team (CRTT) have arrested a male and a female suspect, both aged 56 years old, on charges related to defeating the ends of justice, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, as well as contraventions of the National Prosecuting Authority Act,β Van Wyk said.
She said the case stemmed from an incident on June 26, 2018, in which Khan allegedly assaulted a brigadier who was serving under his command at the time.
βThe victim sustained injuries and subsequently opened an assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at the Silverton Police Station,β Van Wyk said.
Van Wyk said the investigation had found that one of the suspects, the female suspect, was employed by the NPA at the time and allegedly interfered with the case reported at Silverton police station.
The two suspects are expected to appear before the Pretoria Magistrates' Court on Friday afternoon.
Johnson faced sustained scrutiny during her appearance before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, particularly over IDAC's investigations into Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo and other senior officers.
During cross-examination, she withdrew her description of Brigadier Dineo Mokwele's appointment as a "token appointment" and apologised after acknowledging that she had not reviewed Mokwele's qualifications before making the claim.
Johnson also conceded that IDAC had no legal basis to investigate Khumalo in one matter and that the unit should not have solicited complaints from members of the public to initiate an investigation.
She was further questioned about her contact with Khan, including allegations that she had leaked details of a criminal complaint to the senior Crime Intelligence officer. Johnson denied wrongdoing.
The commission also heard evidence about the nature of their relationship, including WhatsApp exchanges containing affectionate messages.
The reported arrests are understood to relate to allegations that information from the 2018 assault investigation involving Khan was improperly accessed and shared.
Khan was accused by Brigadier Leonora Phetlhe of assaulting her at Crime Intelligence headquarters.
Evidence before the commission included claims that Johnson obtained information from the police docket and that its contents were shared with Khan before he provided his warning statement.
Johnson invoked her constitutional right against self-incrimination when questioned about the matter, saying it was before the NPA for a decision on possible prosecution.
Meanwhile, Khan was dismissed from SAPS in September after failing to attend an expedited disciplinary process.
Police said he was deemed dismissed in terms of the SAPS Discipline Regulations after failing to appear before the designated senior officer overseeing the proceedings.
