National Police Commissioner welcomes IPID investigation
Pretoria - The National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, has noted various media reports regarding an enquiry of alleged corruption against the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Arno Lamoer and those of attempting to defeat the ends of justice against herself.
In the media statement issued last week Friday, the National Commissioner confirmed that she did not initiate a conversation with Lt Gen Lamoer with regard to these allegations, but that the conversation arose as a result of a question by a DA member of parliament. The Department is obliged to reply to such questions.
Furthermore, the National Commissioner can confirm that she became aware of the enquiry into Lt Gen Lamoer on 29 May 2013 after receiving a briefing from the Hawks.
An enquiry is an assessment done by the Hawks to establish if there is prima facie evidence to warrant a full investigation prior to opening a docket.
The Head of the Hawks, Lt Gen Anwar Dramat, at the time indicated that the enquiry was initiated at the request of Lt Gen Lamoer in July 2012. In other words, Lt Gen Lamoer has always been aware of the enquiry.
This enquiry was however never public knowledge, hence Lt Gen Lamoer's surprise when he found out that a political party was aware of such a matter.
Recent feedback from the Hawks is that the matter is at an advanced stage and they should be in a position to provide an update in the near future.
It is against this background that the National Commissioner welcomes the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's decision to initiate an investigation into the allegations that she attempted to defeat the ends of justice.
The National Commissioner still maintain that she committed no crime. General Phiyega would like to reassure members of the South African Police Service, as well as the people of South Africa, that she remains focussed on her efforts to fight crime and ensure that all police units and officials conduct their tasks with the utmost integrity.
Statement issued by the Office of National Commissioner Riah Phiyega, SAPS, October 29 2013
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