NPA refutes report the “rogue unit” probe is doomed to fail
The National Prosecuting Authority on Sunday refuted reports that it informed the Hawks that the unit's investigation into the so-called rogue unit at the South African Revenue Service will not succeed in court.
City Press newspaper reported on
Sunday that the Hawks is pushing for prosecution despite the National Director
of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shaun Abrahams' directive to gather more
evidence.
But the NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku dismissed the report saying that the NDPP "does not carry dockets".
"The person who will decide whether or not to prosecute on the matter is Dr. Torie Pretorius, who is the head of priority crimes litigation in conjuction with the Director of Public Prosecutions in North Gauteng," said Mfaku, adding no such a decision has been made.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has been implicated in the matter.
The Sars unit, commonly referred to as the 'rogue-unit', was set up during Gordhan's tenure as commissioner of the South African Revenue Service.
According to City Press, the Hawks approached the Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko to speak to Justice Minister Michael Masutha to ask him to pressure Abrahams into taking the matter to court.
But Mfaku was adamant that Abrahams has never been pressured into prosecuting any individual.