The star Online
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Jackie Selebi's name has been brought up in a legal battle involving claims of human smuggling, lesbian affairs, and corruption at OR Tambo International Airport.
Yesterday, lawyers representing the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) fought to gag Paul O'Sullivan - the man behind the explosive allegations that the national police commissioner is entangled in the criminal underworld - to stop him taking the stand in the court case.
O'Sullivan, a former Acsa security boss, was subpoenaed to the Germiston Magistrate's Court to give evidence in a defamation case in which Paul Mills and his wife Nicole are each suing Acsa for R100 000.
Mills, a former police superintendent with 24 years' service, was in charge of border police at the airport until 2001, when he was suddenly transferred to a station in Actonville, east of Joburg.
After Mills was transferred, he received a document that forms the basis of his defamation claim against Acsa, and raised questions about Selebi's role in his sudden transfer.
The contentious correspondence had apparently been sent by Acsa security manager André Olivier to Selebi and contained allegations that Mills - and more than a dozen other policemen - were involved in criminal activity ranging from smuggling abalone to "escorting deportees outside the borders of South Africa", and receiving kickbacks of $150 (about R1 000) per day.
In a cryptic affidavit, Olivier said the damaging report against the officers had been compiled at Selebi's request.
Describing a May 2000 meeting with three policemen, Olivier said in his affidavit that the purpose of the meeting "was that certain members who were working at Johannesburg International Airport must be transferred because the national commissioner (Selebi) gave instructions to Commissioner (Morgan) Chetty that certain members must be transferred.
"The necessary information had to be obtained to transfer the members. Everyone who attended the meeting had to give input."
Olivier did not detail what information formed the basis of the report that he and the police officers compiled. But Mills is adamant that the report's six claims against him (labelling him a criminal) are without any basis.
Acsa has defended Olivier, arguing that he had received confidential information from two policemen - who were initially sued by Mills but later struck off the list of defendants - and sent it to Selebi.
Nicole Mills is suing Acsa for R100 000 for defamation, as Olivier's report claimed she was having a relationship with her husband's secretary.
"The only way this could have been interpreted is that it was a lesbian affair," said Mills' counsel, Barry Whitter.
Mills' transfer came around the same time that O'Sullivan cancelled a R130-million security contract at the airport (then called Johannesburg International), despite alleged interference from Selebi, who, O'Sullivan claims, tried to prevent him from cancelling the deal.
O'Sullivan had already walked into the witness stand yesterday when Acsa's legal team asked for the matter to stand down until today. They argued that a gagging "agreement" had been signed by O'Sullivan during a separate legal case he has against Acsa.
O'Sullivan was fired by Acsa after what he calls a smear campaign against him by company officials and Selebi.
Selebi has repeatedly denied any links to the criminal underworld or being the don of a "cop mafia", accusing O'Sullivan of being the architect of a vicious smear campaign against him.
Acsa spokesperson Solomon Makgale said: "It is our view that we did not defame anyone."
Last night, police spokesperson Sally de Beer said: "We respect the judicial process and reserve the right not to comment at this stage."
Meanwhile Graeme Hosken reports that the SA Police Service said there was nothing wrong with Selebi driving a car seized by the police while exercising his duties.
This comes after Independent Democrats leader Patricia de Lille said at the weekend that Selebi had been driving a Land Rover seized under the Criminal Procedure Act.
National police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Vish Naidoo said that according to certain regulations, the police could use seized property in carrying out their duties - if they had the proper authority.