Prosecutor 'refused to stop probe'

Prosecutor 'refused to stop probe'
2012-02-03 09:12

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Johannesburg - Many questions surround the suspension of senior prosecutor Glynnis Breytenbach by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Eyewitness News reported that the NPA refused to discuss the suspension of Breytenbach, who was responsible for several high-profile cases against prominent people, saying it was an “internal matter”.

Beeld published a report speculating whether Breytenbach’s suspension had anything to do with her refusal to quit a politically sensitive fraud case.

Breytenbach was apparently investigating a fraud case based on information that had come to light in a civil case in the North Gauteng High Court between Kumba and Imperial Crown Trading (ICT).

ICT had been awarded prospecting rights in Kumba’s Sishen mine but a court found in December that it did not have the right to have these.

Breytenbach was investigating a criminal charge of fraud that Kumba had laid over a year ago against ICT, involving possibly forged title deeds used by ICT in their application for mineral rights in Sishen, the country’s largest iron ore mine.

President Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane, has links to ICT.

When Breytenbach refused to quit her investigation, a charge was laid against her, which amounted to “misuse of power” claimed a source in legal circles.

She had until Tuesday to provide reasons against her suspension.

According to acquaintances, Breytenbach was the kind of person who did not allow herself to be intimidated.


Read more on: npa | kumba | ict | glynnis breytenbach | corruption