Durban businessman, Tariq Downes, allegedly lied about being a police agent when he was arrested in 2021 and generals, Feroz Khan and Ebrahim Kadwa, vouched for him on the matter.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Police alleged that two senior generals, Maj-Gen Feroz Khan and Gauteng Hawks head Maj-Gen Ebrahim Kadwa, helped a Durban businessman, Tariq Downes, after he lied about being an undercover agent to dodge arrest after he was allegedly caught with an unwrought gold bar.
Downes appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday alongside Khan and Kadwa.
The accused are guilty of contravening section 4 of the Precious Metals Act 37 of 2005 and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said Downes allegedly misled Hawks officers in 2021 by claiming he was working as a police informer during an operation.
Khan and Kadwa were then allegedly contacted and confirmed that Downes was an undercover operative who should be released.
Police investigations later found that Downes was not a registered informer and was never supposed to be freed.
“We then realised that at the time he was not an informer because for you to become an informer you must be registered with SAPS and you must have a handler,” said Mathe.
Police say the allegations against the two senior officers are serious because they allegedly intervened to secure Downes’ release.
Mathe described the alleged conduct as “deeply concerning” and said investigators believe there was collusion to defeat the ends of justice.
The three accused were granted R20,000 bail each. The case was postponed to July 14 for further investigation.
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