Johannesburg - Former crime intelligence boss Lt-Gen Richard Mdluli's lawyer does not want to “set a bad legal precedent” by testifying against three senior NPA advocates, Beeld reported on Thursday.
Ike Motloung had been summoned in terms of section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act to provide information to the Hawks for their investigation into perjury charges against advocates Nomgcobo Jiba, Lawrence Mrwebi, and Sibongile Mzinyathi.
Jiba is deputy National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head, Mrwebi national head of the specialised commercial crime unit, and Mzinyathi North Gauteng director of public prosecutions.
The Hawks want a letter Mrwebi gave Motloung informing him the charges against Mdluli would be permanently withdrawn. They also want an affidavit stating the date and time he received it.
“Mdluli is my client. That is why the State believes there is nothing to prevent me from testifying against advocate Lawrence Mrwebi. But I do not think it is that simple,” Motloung said outside the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
A warrant of arrest was issued for Motloung last week after he failed to arrive in court twice.
Proceedings were postponed to February for Motloung to seek legal advice.
Jiba, Mrwebi, and Mzinyathi were involved in the withdrawal of charges of fraud, money laundering, and corruption against Mdluli when he was head of the police's crime intelligence division.
The High Court in Pretoria set aside their decision and the appeal court confirmed the decision.
Sapa