IDAC appoints a wanted suspected

In a startling revelation, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has appointed Sunnel Bellochun as a senior investigating officer, despite him having a warrant for his arrest, for alleged fraud. The circumstances surrounding this appointment raise serious concerns regarding accountability and transparency within the entity.

The case against Bellochun was opened by former police officer James Ramanjalum, who opened a case docket of fraud at Pretoria West (CAS 97/05/2021). Following the lodging of the complaint, a warrant for Bellochun's arrest was issued, yet he remains at large, further complicating the trust vested in IDAC and the South African Police Service (SAPS). 

Those familiar with the situation believe that Bellochun’s apparent protection or at least, the failure to arrest him, comes from some members of the prosecution team at IDAC and SAPS.

According to a sworn statement from investigating officer David Mashaba, his attempts to arrest Bellochun were thwarted by intervention from advocate Tilas Chabalala and advocate Paul Louw, both IDAC employees. 

“Upon my arrival at the suspect’s address, I found Sunnel Bellochun. I introduced myself to him and explained my visit. 

After showing him the warrant, he requested to make phone calls, leading to both advocates promising that it was permissible for him to appear in Pretoria on the following Monday,”Mashaba recounted. The situation escalated when the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) intervened, sending a letter to then Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Michael Masutha. 

In its letter, POPCRU urged for government intervention, citing the protection Bellochun was allegedly receiving from certain members of SAPS. The letter claimed that Bellochun threatened Mashaba because he has connections to the office of the national police commissioner. 

The union expressed their concerns regarding the apparent disparity in treatment that Bellochun was receiving, as he seemed to evade court proceedings like any regular accused individual. Furthermore, Bellochun's history is marred with allegations of grave misconduct. In November 2018, he was accused of torturing and harassing Lorretta Joubert, who claimed she was assaulted during a police search and subsequently mishandled and intimidated at a Pretoria building. 

The psychological impact of this encounter left Joubert with ongoing suicidal thoughts, as she detailed in a written plea to the National Police Commissioner and Parliament, indicating a severe misuse of power within the ranks of law enforcement.

Joubert has stated, “I too was refused legal representation when this team interrogated me for two days, thereby violating my constitutional rights.” 

Despite filing a complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) more than two years ago, Joubert’s case remains unresolved, marred by the same alleged interference that hinders Bellochun's prosecution. 

IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame declined to comment on the specific allegations or the situation surrounding Bellochun, stating, “IDAC will not discuss the evidence of a witness in the media. The allegations against the advocates and the investigator are untrue and unfounded.” 

He also dismissed insinuations of interference as deserving “contempt.”