Pretoria -
The National Prosecuting Authority violated suspended prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach's privacy, her lawyer said on Friday.
“You abused the opportunity to violate the confidentiality of her private papers... to rustle up charges against her,” Wim Trengove said at her disciplinary hearing in Pretoria.
He was cross-examining William Gloster, internal investigator for the NPA's integrity management unit.
Gloster was the second witness at the hearing at the NPA offices in Silverton.
“When you saw the credit application you immediately knew it had nothing to do with your investigation?” Trengove asked.
Gloster admitted this, but denied he was trying to rustle up charges.
“I did not suggest a charge, I handed it over (to his boss) and said please look at this,” Gloster said.
While analysing Breytenbach's e-mails on the NPA server, the integrity unit had found Breytenbach's application for car finance in 2009.
In it she listed under “other income” that she earned R4 000 a month for renting out a flat and stabling a horse.
Earlier, Trengove called the reading of this e-mail an abuse of Breytenbach's constitutional right to privacy of her communication.
The hearing will continue on August 6. - Sapa