You're lying‚ suspended KZN Hawks head tells NPP's Shaun Abrahams

Suspended KZN Hawks head Major-General Johan Booysen has accused National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams of lying about having applied his mind properly and fairly when he authorised racketeering charges in the so-called Cato Manor “death squad” case.

The proof of this‚ he says‚ lies in the fact that Captain Neville Eva - who died of organ failure four years ago - is still listed as an accused on the latest indictment in the matter‚ which his own prosecutors have stated is the final one.

Further proof is that Abrahams - in supplying Booysen with the documents which he says he considered before signing off on the racketeering charges - has again put up statements by people not on the finalised witness list.

These include one from the former head of the now-disbanded unit Col Rajen Aiyer and an unsigned one from former police reservist Ari Danikas. Neither implicate Booysen nor any of his 27 co-accused in any offence.

Booysen’s allegations are contained in his latest affidavit filed with the Durban High Court t on Friday afternoon in his challenge against the authorisation of the charges which form part of a 116-charge indictment.

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The same charges were previously withdrawn against him after Durban High Court Judge Trevor Gorven ruled that there was no basis for them in February 2014.

At that time they had been authorised by acting NDPP Nomgcobo Jiba.

Soon after his appointment in June 2015‚ Abrahams re-instated the charges and Booysen launched the latest court challenge.

In response‚ Abrahams provided the documents which he said he perused in coming to his decision.

Booysen says they prove only that “the case against us rests on two deceased witnesses who do not implicate us and whose statements are hearsay twice removed and two witnesses (Aiyer and Danikas) who are not the list.

“It is clearly irrational to authorise our prosecution on that basis. Advocate Abrahams could only have done so for ulterior‚ political purpose.”

He said a prosecution memorandum and powerpoint presentation which were supplied were “riddled with fiction‚ speculation and misinformation”.

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There were also newspaper articles “containing the same tired lies” and a memory stick containing “random footage of helicopter flights‚” not relating to any of the alleged offences.

Abrahams is opposing the application but has yet to file an affidavit.

The matter will have to be argued and decided before the criminal trial - which has been adjourned at this stage to September - can proceed.

- TMG Digital/The Times