Police officers Mayendran Chetty and Vincent Phelago are facing four counts of murder.
Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers
Former Umkomaas police officer, Mayendran Chetty, who is currently on trial for a series of serious charges, including four murders, has issued a direct threat against members of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) responsible for his arrest.
Chetty, a former constable, along with former sergeant Vincent Phelago, are facing charges that include the murders of eThekwini ANC councillor Mnqobi Molefe, drug dealer Nhlonipho Nzimande, Pilayelo Sydney Buthelezi, and Mqapheli Victor Cele, as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances and conspiracy to commit murder.
During cross-examination on Friday, Chetty informed the Durban Regional Court that he was arrested by the PKTT, SAPS Tactical Response Team (TRT), and National Intervention Unit (NIU).
He then said the PKTT fabricated evidence in collaboration with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
He claimed that he could prove he was not at the murder scenes and alleged that the PKTT intervened just before he was to receive an award for arresting a high-profile hitman.
“Are you going to call any witnesses to testify and corroborate that the PKTT conspired to arrest you?” State prosecutor advocate Nhlanhla Shange asked.
“No, I will not. But I will deal with the PKTT for what they did to me,” he said, then named several members of the task team and the NIU.
Magistrate M Mewalal repeatedly questioned Chetty about whether his arrest was a consequence of his having arrested two people, due to his consistent allegations.
Chetty stated that the victims' families concealed his identity as the killer from his Umkomaas police station colleagues, who were present at the various crime scenes. He claimed that he only became a person of interest after the PKTT took over the case dockets.
“The explanation that was given regarding the spent cartridges is that you found them up the road by your house from someone who was shooting. Is that correct?” Shange asked.
Chetty maintained that they were found by his father, who called him because he is a cop. “I took them because I am a police officer,” he said.
The former constable, who told the court that officers can keep drugs in their possession for work purposes, admitted to conducting personal business using a State vehicle during work hours.
However, he denied that he would do the same by going to kill Molefe during work hours.
Furthermore, Chetty denied knowing Molefe, despite the deceased being his ward councillor, and also denied knowledge of a R1 billion dam tender project in Umkomaas. He, however, admitted that Buthelezi and Molefe were friends.
Shange concluded his cross-examination. The trial will continue in May.