SENIOR COPS INVESTIGATED FOR INFORMATION LEAK

MANZINI – The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has started internal investigations among senior cops regarding the leaking of information, which compromises national security.

The internal investigations are said to have been instituted following allegations that there were senior police officers who were disbursing information to sectors of society who have used it against the police. Impeccable sources within the police service claimed that the internal investigations ensued following a number of their operations being compromised as the targeted individuals were informed of developments before they were even instituted. It was claimed that the investigations included a number of senior officers who were part of specialised teams in the police service.

Investigation

According to sources, the investigation came after a high level meeting within the REPS Headquarters, wherein the concern of leakage of information was raised. It is said the concern was that there were elements set to suppress any progress in certain investigations by the police; more especially those that threatened national security. Thereafter, it was said the communication was filtered to the regional headquarters in the country for the regional commanders to act on it. The sources claimed that the investigations had started.  According to the sources, the leaking of information includes the daily reports wherein investigations were still to be conducted, statements that were recorded by complainants at police stations and internal communication informing officers of reshuffles.

In a recent investigation which was leaked, was the daily report of a murder which occurred at or near Mangcongco, Bhunya. This is where a man supposedly died due to an assault by members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF). Also, there were concerns regarding warrants that were being actioned on within the service, which then made their way into the public domain. Another leakage involves a parastatal that was defrauded thousands of Emalangeni, wherein the incident report was circulated on social media while investigations were ongoing. There have been incidents as well wherein the police supposedly had their plans to effect raids being propagated on social media platforms, before they were even executed.

Suspicions

This was after there were suspicions that there were illegal guns in the country, which were purportedly used in the killing of police officers. There have also been claims of tipping-off of suspects, that the police were about to arrest being leaked to the affected individuals, such that the efforts of the police were watered down as their targets fell through. Meanwhile, in March, Prime Minister (PM) Cleopas Sipho Dlamini told journalists during the Editors Forum Breakfast Meeting, that some police officers could be involved in the leaking of crucial information. Also, the National Commissioner (NATCOM) of Police, William Dlamini, spoke strongly against the leaking of confidential information.

The same was done by former NATCOM, Isaac Magagula, following the leaking of a video showing the cold-blood murder of astute businessman and football administrator – Victor Gamedze. An investigation within the police service was conducted to establish how the footage of the murder got to circulate on social media. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, when sought for comment, said she did not divulge information pertaining to investigations. In April, the Times SUNDAY reported that former Police Spokesperson Superintendent Khulani Mamba, was the subject of an investigation over the leaking of sensitive information belonging to the organisation.Mamba, at the time, occupied a senior regional position in the police service, but he has since taken a deferred retirement.

Questioning

At the time, Mamba was reportedly called in for questioning by a senior deputy commissioner, who was in the company of the REPS legal officer and two other top police officers from the elite police investigative unit known as Tingculungculu. It is worth noting that some magistrates have become reluctant to sign warrants of arrest and inclusive of those for search and seizure as these writs were shared on social media platforms and in turn compromised their security. The concerns were raised in line with leaking of crucial information and documents and it coincided with the spate of arson attacks and law enforcement agents being shot. A warrant is a document issued by a legal or government official authorising the police or another body to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out some other action relating to the administration of justice. These documents are issued according to the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the judicial officers had in the past raised their concerns over their security as the threats surpassed their lives and spiralled to their immediate families. It is worth noting that magistrates are not afforded any security and are often seen moving about in various places on their own, unlike judges who are accompanied by police officers when engaging in errands in town. Judges also enjoy the protection when in the confides of their residence from a private security company. On the other hand, the Chief Justice (CJ), Bheki Maphalala, enjoys protection from the members of the REPS who guard his residences and also form a cavalcade when he is on transit. Meanwhile, according to impeccable sources within the Judiciary, some of the magistrates had raised concerns over their protection following that a number of warrants had made it to social media platforms.

Threats

When posted on social media platforms, these warrants have drawn the ire of some sectors of society, resulting in threats being made against them and or their immediate families. The judicial officers engaged by this publication raised concerns that their safety was being disregarded despite that the political climate did not permit this, given their involvement in cases emanating from the political landscape. They claimed that once they issued the warrants of arrest and or search and seizure, they circulated on social media wherein members of the public accused them of being partial and or being against the people. It is worth noting that the internal investigations come against the backdrop of security personnel being killed by unknown assailants. A police officer was recently killed in the morning at Mathangeni by a gunman who shot him at close range. This was after another police officer under the Traffic Department was shot by an unknown gunman at Sigodvweni in Matsapha.

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