NPA to charge Dramat, Sibiya and Maluleke

The NPA is prosecuting former Hawks head Anwa Dramat, Shadrack Sibiya, and Leslie Maluleke in connection with the illegal rendition of Zimbabwean nationals.

Members of the media are advised that the director of public prosecutions Pretoria has decided to institute a prosecution against the accused on seven charges of kidnapping with alternative counts of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, one charge of defeating the ends of justice, four charges under the Immigration Act for illegal deportation. There are further three counts of robbery against Captain Maluleke (sic),” NPA spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku said in a statement.

“The accused were members of the [directorate for priority crime investigation] DPCI (Hawks) and the charges arise out of their involvement in the arrest of seven Zimbabwean immigrants in November 2010 and January 2011 and the subsequent illegal deportation of four of them. Some of their items were taken during arrest (sic). The decision was taken after careful evaluation of the available evidence,” he said.

“Their legal representative[s] were informed of the decision today [Friday] and the accused will appear in court within the next two weeks after suitable arrangements have been made between their legal representative[s] and the prosecution,” Mfaku said.

Dramat was suspended in December 2014 but his suspension was lifted a month later after the High Court in Pretoria ruled the decision invalid.

He resigned in April last year after reaching “a settlement” with police management. Police would not reveal the nature or financial terms of Dramat’s exit package.

Sibiya was dismissed from the Hawks in September last year after an independent disciplinary inquiry found him guilty of misconduct in relation to the renditions. At the time, he indicated he would appeal his dismissal.

Police claim Dramat and Sibiya illegally arranged with Zimbawean police and agreed to trace, arrest, and deport the seven suspects. South Africa and Zimbabwe do not have an extradition agreement. Some of the suspects handed to Zimbabwean police later died in custody.

African News Agency

* Use IOL’s Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.