Durban Hawks colonel Jacobs slams ‘shoddy’ statements about drug theft painting him as ‘liar’

By Johnathan Paoli

Durban Hawks Serious Organised Crime Unit Commander Colonel Gavin Jacob ended his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry under sustained pressure on Thursday as commissioners and evidence leaders challenged inconsistencies in the investigation diary linked to the 541kg cocaine consignment stolen from a Port Shepstone police facility.

Resuming his testimony in the afternoon, Jacob said allegations linking him to the theft and inconsistencies in the investigation were based on what he described as weak and unreliable evidence.

“This is the theme that runs throughout this entire investigation directed towards myself. Shoddy investigation statements that are vague. This tells us nothing, but it seems to be the reason I’m being called out as a liar,” Jacob said.

Jacob acknowledged shortcomings in his handling of the crime scene but said investigators were unfairly using vague statements to portray him as dishonest.

“I may have messed up my crime