Parliament will seek legal advice after forensic fraud examiner Paul O'Sullivan walked out of the Ad Hoc Committee during his evidence on Thursday.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Paul O'Sullivan, a forensic fraud examiner, abruptly left the Ad Hoc Committee's proceedings on Thursday, prompting Parliament to seek legal advice.
O'Sullivan, who had previously complained of feeling ill, was making his second appearance to wrap up his evidence.
“We will get advice from the parliamentary legal services on how the matter will be taken forward,” committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane said.
“He denied us an opportunity to thank him for having come here. He denied us an opportunity to conclude the engagement in a ceremonial and cordial way," Lekganyane said.
O’Sullivan walked out as advocate Bongiwe Mkhize was asking him questions about the termination of his contract over allegations of misconduct when he was the aviation security manager at Airports Company South Africa in 2003.
The Ad Hoc Committee heard that he was accused of involvement in an unscheduled landing of an aircraft and was responsible for an R11 million cargo heist at Johannesburg International Airport in 2002, a few months into his employment.
After evidence leader Mkhize put it to him that there was no reason to claim that former police commissioner Jackie Selebi was behind the termination of his employment contract, O’Sullivan indicated his intention to leave, stating that he was going to miss his flight.
“I did say I would be happy to stay until 1(pm). I don’t want to stay any longer. I have been very cooperative. I have come here and made it clear that I need to leave at 1(pm). I really need to leave now,” he said, adding that he did not want to be saddled with cost of rearranging his flight.
EFF MP Julius Malema said O’Sullivan should not leave without permission from the chairperson.
“If he leaves, he is walking out,” he said.
MK Party MP David Skosana said, "He must be arrested. We will open a case.”
However, O’Sullivan said he had already made his intentions clear.
“I did not come on a summons. I came on my free will and I am leaving,” he said as he walked out.
Forensic fraud examiner Paul O’Sullivan walked out of the Ad Hoc Committee proceedings on Thursday in the midst of giving evidence.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Lekganyane asked that the legal services unit provide legal advice on how the matter should be taken forward.
ANC MP Xola Nqola said the walkout was a very serious matter.
“The chap that walked out of the parliamentary proceedings (did so while under oath). It needs to be taken very seriously,” said Nqola.
Malema said they accepted that there will be legal advice on the matter.
“This violate the rules of Parliament and the rules are every very clear with this kind of conduct,” he said.
Lekganyane thanked the MPs for restraining themselves.