A police officer investigating a case involving police commissioner General Fanie Masemola in the Louis Vuitton bag scandal has allegedly been promised a position at a higher rank in the SA Police Service (Saps).
according to City Press, e-mail seen by the publication alleged officials were promised top positions in return for scuppering investigation, which could end the career of Masemola and other top police.
The Louis Vuitton Masemola saga
Last November it was revealed that the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Directorate of Investigations was investigating Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in connection with the bulletproof vest tender.
In 2016, Masemola and several other senior SAPS officials attended a presentation on bulletproof vests by Durban businessman Inbanatan Kistiah in Germany.
luxurious gifts
Kistiah reportedly gave the officer lavish gifts, including a Louis Vuitton designer bag, but he failed to declare it as required by SAPS policy.
The businessman’s company allegedly received about R6.7 million to supply 200 bulletproof vests for ballistic testing in 2016.
Also read: Ramaphosa appoints General Masemola as new police commissioner
Kistiah’s company is reportedly facing several investigations, including the attempted sale of a surveillance device known as a grabber to the SAPS for R45 million during the ANC’s elective conference in December 2017.
This week, according to the report, businessman Kishene Chetty wrote to Hawks boss Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya asking for further investigation into the case.
Tip off
In an e-mail, the businessman reportedly claimed to have received a tip-off that two members of the Directorate investigating the case have struck a deal to scupper the investigation in return for the above posts that Masemola will post.
The publication on Sunday quoted the e-mail as reading: “Resources from Saps human resources [department] indicating that the process is underway and the advertisement will be out anytime from now.
“The source indicated that all documentation and paper trails are available in Saps human resources [department] to prove this charge”
Chetty himself and 22 others – including current and former police officers – are reportedly facing R54 million in fraud charges in connection with allegations that they have taken over the police supply chain management unit to score dodgy contracts for the service and repair of police vehicles at inflated prices.
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