Ipid 'is abusing its powers'

Acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane has fired a legal salvo at the Independent Police Investigative Directorate in an attempt to stop its corruption investigation into his activities. He has described the probe as an "abuse of power".

The commissioner - who has hired the law firm that defended convicted mobster Radovan Krejcir - filed an application in the Pretoria High Court yesterday to have the search warrant used by the directorate to raid his home set aside and to have the court declare that the directorate failed to act in accordance with its lawful duty by allowing private investigator Paul O'Sullivan to participate in its investigation into his activities.

Directorate spokesman Moses Dlamini said Ipid would oppose the application.

The directorate raided Phahlane's Pretoria home last month.

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It is understood that it is investigating a corruption case and has begun a lifestyle audit, looking at Phahlane's vehicle purchases.

Phahlane in his affidavit denies wrongdoing.

In his affidavit he describes O'Sullivan as a delusional individual who sent him insulting e-mails.

He said that, by allowing the private investigator to be involved in its investigation, Ipid "failed to provide an independent and impartial investigatory function".

He has asked the court to interdict O'Sullivan from threatening him either verbally or by e-mail, or encouraging others to harass him, and asks that O'Sullivan be ordered not to be in the vicinity of his home.

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Slamming the directorate for its "tardy" investigation, Phahlane said: "... appallingly poor investigative work" and speculative conclusions were put forward in the application for the search warrant.

He says the directorate's investigation suggests a lack of independence.

"The investigation is a sensationalised parody of an investigation ... with unlawful behaviour of those executing the warrant.

"The entire process was aimed at playing to the media gallery ... it was little more than a publicity stunt.

"There is an agenda to vilify me in the press, supported by the directorate but unsupported by adequate investigation."