Hawks accused of cutting corners in anti-O’Sullivan crusade

Paul O’Sullivan’s forensic investigative firm alleges the police exaggerated the nature and success of their last raid on the company’s premises.

Despite SA Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Sally de Beer issuing a press statement in which she announced that electronic devices such as mobile phones, memory and SIM cards, laptops and desktops were seized, O’Sullivan’s company says this was not the case.

O’Sullivan’s lawyer Sarah-Jane Trent has disclosed that the police only managed to copy about five files from their computers. This was because an attorney representing the firm opposed the seizure of their computers to protect the confidentiality of their other clients’ information.

Trent reiterated they “couldn’t let Hawks seize equipment containing information of clients unrelated to O’Sullivan’s battles”.

Trent is also accusing the police of trumping up charges with regards to O’Sullivan leaving the country without informing the investigating officer in charge of the section 26(b) case. This refers to the recent incarceration of O’Sullivan while he was en-route to the United Kingdom on charges of using fraudulent documents to leave the country. To this effect, evidence was provided of both fax (and fax receipt) as well as email correspondence between O’Sullivan and Captain Mkupa of Kameeldrift.

The company’s lawyer is also vehemently denying allegations that O’Sullivan impersonated an Independent Police Investigative Directorate employee.

“That charge is laughable. In terms of the legislation, private citizens are permitted to help the police with investigations,” Trent quipped.

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