‘I just want my name to be cleared,’ says former cop
A former lieutenant-colonel recalled the day when his life would change drastically.
The past two-and-a-half years of ‘s (49) life reads like a crime thriller. A 30-year veteran of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the former lieutenant-colonel recalled the day when his life would change drastically.
Derby was attached to the provincial task team which investigated irregularities in the appointment of new recruits at SAPS recruitment centres.
He said, “I received a call from a neighbour who alerted me to a heavy police presence at my home. He informed me that he had witnessed a police officer in full uniform, exiting my house and carrying a plastic packet. He added that he could not see the contents of the bag.”
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To Derby’s dismay, further calls revealed that police had allegedly found drugs, cash hidden in his ceiling, three hijacked vehicles and auto parts on his property.
Not wanting to be paraded in front of the flashing cameras which, according to him, is inevitable in the arrest of a high-profile police officer, he sought legal from his attorney in Houghton.
Acting on the advice of his attorney, he did not go home, but chose instead to, in his words, ‘get his paperwork in order’.
Derby said that only the National Prosecuting Authority may give instruction for the arrest of a high-ranking police official to be arrested, and when this instruction was not issued, he duly reported to the Houghton office where he was based.
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He said, “I reported for work on Wednesday and remained there until 2 pm by which time, no decision had been made to detain me.”
When the order was finally granted, he was detained at the Houghton Police Station on the Friday following the search and seizure operation at his home.
The beleaguered top cop was remanded in custody for seven days and held on charges of hijacking and theft.
Pointing to sinister forces which may have been at play, Derby said, “It was very curious that the possession charge was not added to the charge sheet and the ‘evidence’ was not booked in.”
The protracted case dragged on for two-and-a-half years at the Protea Magistrate Court and was concluded on November 20 last year. The former policeman was found not guilty and exonerated on all charges.
According to Derby, the three cars which were seized, are still legally registered to him and he produced sworn affidavits to support this from the sellers who testified on his behalf in court.
The embattled ex-cop believes that he had been set up by higher-ups in SAPS following his investigation into irregularities and corruption which implicated a number of people in senior positions.
“My troubles started after I was appointed to the provincial task team which is mandated to investigate corruption at recruitment centres by digging deep into the files of new recruits,” said Derby.
He said that after returning to active duty at the Dobsonville Police Station, he was informed by the station commander that an instruction was given that he (Derby) was not to be given a state vehicle, firearm or -cell phone in the course of performing his duties.
This was untenable as it placed his life in danger and he resigned after two weeks.
“This was a clear indication that there was something more sinister to this and that the trumped-up charges against me involved high-ranking SAPS officials.”
He lambasted the media for their coverage of the case and said, “While the trial continued, the court was packed with media, but when I was found not guilty, not a word was printed.”
“I am currently suing the State for unlawful arrest, unlawful prosecution, loss of income and slander and am in the process of reapplying to SAPS because I do not have a criminal record and I want that perception to be erased.”
