Ex-prosecutor: Interference, ‘IPID infiltration’ led to O’Sullivan case being struck off roll

By Johnathan Paoli

The prosecutor who charged forensic examiner Paul O’Sullivan has told Parliament that sustained interference, intimidation and what he described as the “infiltration” of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) contributed to delays that ultimately saw the Kameeldrift matter struck off the roll, and never re-enrolled.

Appearing before the ad-hoc committee on Wednesday, former NPA prosecutor, advocate Molatlhwa Mashuga, was called to explain why case 1201/2017 involving O’Sullivan and others impersonating IPID officers was removed from the court roll and has not proceeded since.

Evidence leader Norman Arendse reminded the committee that the matter “was struck off the roll in terms of 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act some seven, nine years ago and has not been re-enrolled and the Honourable Committee was rightly concerned why that has not been the case”.

Mashuga testified that after being allocated the docket in February 2017, he identified multiple offences, including