I am not a criminal, says Riah Phiyega

Suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega during a press conferance in Sandton to clear her name after the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) announced criminal charges against her.802 Photo: Matthews Baloyi 03/02/2016

Suspended national police commissioner Riah Phiyega during a press conferance in Sandton to clear her name after the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) announced criminal charges against her.802 Photo: Matthews Baloyi 03/02/2016

Published Feb 4, 2016

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Johannesburg - Riah Phiyega is convinced that charges laid against her by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) are part of a witch-hunt and a relentless campaign to destroy her.

She said the decision to charge her would interfere with her preparation for an inquiry into her fitness to hold office.

On Wednesday, the suspended national police commissioner pulled no punches as she told of her bewilderment with the decision to institute criminal charges against her.

Read: Phiyega criminally charged on Marikana

“The undignified haste to announce my imminent charging smacks of a sustained and concerted effort by the people and entities in the Police Ministry to continue with the relentless campaign that seeks to harass, slander and vilify me,” she told the media in Sandton.

On Tuesday, Ipid confirmed in Parliament that it had filed criminal charges against Phiyega and former North West provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Zukiswa Mbombo.

The charges against Phiyega relate to defeating the ends of justice after she failed to submit certain information to the Farlam Commission of Inquiry into the Marikana massacre. It probed the deaths of 34 striking Lonmin miners who were gunned down by police in August 2012.

Phiyega, who appeared angry and shaken, claimed she found out about the Ipid charges in the media and had not been informed personally of the charges or asked to submit a warning statement. She questioned the timing of the announcement, given that the police watchdog had indicated that investigations were ongoing.

 “The deliberate and orchestrated character assassination is meant to destroy my credibility and reputation,” she said.

Other investigations into Phiyega’s conduct were also part of the “relentless campaign” to tarnish her image, she said.

Read: Union lashes Ipid over Phiyega charges

She referred to an investigation by a reference group established by Police Minister Nathi Nhleko as a “kangaroo court” aimed at destroying her credibility and reputation.

The group found that Phiyega committed fraud, perjury and misconduct during her time in office.

Phiyega also referred to an investigation by Parliament’s portfolio committee on police which investigated a statement issued by several top police officials in August declaring their support for her at the same time as President Jacob Zuma was appointing a board of inquiry to look into her conduct during the massacre.

“Likewise, this report ignored natural justice processes and found me guilty without hearing my side of the story,” Phiyega said.These parallel investigations, along with limited access to her former office, were interfering with her preparations for the inquiry into her fitness to hold office, which will start on May 3, she claimed.

“I find these parallel processes very perplexing. But most profoundly, it is aimed at diverting my attention and resources from focusing on preparations for the inquiry,” she said. “Preparations for the inquiry are difficult in that there is an institutionalised gate-keeping that has been introduced. My whole office has been dismantled.

“To access anything I need, I have been informed in writing that I must formally approach the minister of police or the acting national commissioner for such access.”

Read: Phiyega feels ‘harassed and intimidated’

She added that people in her inner circle had been harassed, destabilised, suspended or moved from their positions, while some had resigned. Phiyega said if the National Director of Public Prosecutions decided to pursue charges against her as recommended by Ipid, she would co-operate fully in order to clear her name.

“I have full confidence that our country’s judicial system will afford me a fair trial. “I did not lie and I am not a criminal,” she said.

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The Star

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