Mdluli deluded over plot, Hawks' old boss tells court

Claims by former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli that there were police officers who sought his downfall were unfounded, the Johannesburg High Court heard yesterday.

"All these people that were alleged to be involved in the conspiracy were senior to him," said former Gauteng Hawks boss Shadrack Sibiya.

"Those that are being mentioned as conspirators are all his seniors," Sibiya said.

Among those alleged to have been involved in the conspiracy plot against Mdluli include former national police commissioner Bheki Cele, former Hawks boss Anwar Dramat and former deputy police commissioner Godfrey Lebeya.

Mdluli alleged that the high- ranking officials had blocked his promotion to the national police commissioner post by fabricating evidence and coaching witnesses to give false evidence against him.

Sibiya said Lebeya had tasked him to investigate Mdluli following an article in Sowetan raising questions about how Mdluli had been appointed head of crime intelligence while he still faced "serious allegations".

The allegations referred to claims of Mdluli's involvement in the murder of Oupa Ramogibe, who was gunned down in 1999.

An inquest later cleared Mdluli of Ramogibe's murder.

Sibiya stood by his story under cross-examination from Mdluli's counsel, Ike Motloung .

"You will never corner me in any manner," Sibiya told Motloung.

But the lawyer pushed on, saying the mission to probe Mdluli was to "dig up any dirt" on him.

Sibiya denied the claim.

"Stick to the facts Mr Motloung, this had nothing to do with collecting [dirt]," he replied.

Mdluli and co-accused Mthembeni Mthunzi are on trial facing a series of charges, including assault, kidnapping, intimidation and defeating the ends of justice.

Last month Sibiya, who arrested Mdluli for Ramogibe's murder over 10 years ago, said his involvement in the investigation against the former crime intelligence boss led to his being booted out of the Hawks.

The matter was scheduled to return to court on July 31, but the case is most likely to only be finalised next year as Judge Rata Mokgoatlheng indicated he expected be on leave from September 1 to December 15 .