Parliament has laid criminal charges against private investigator Paul O’Sullivan over incidents during Ad Hoc Committee hearings. The charges involve an alleged threatening message to a witness and an unauthorised walkout.
Parliament confirmed it has laid criminal charges against private investigator Paul O’Sullivan. The announcement came during a housekeeping meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee examining national security concerns. The charges arise from two specific incidents involving O’Sullivan’s conduct before the committee. First, he allegedly sent a threatening message to Cedrick Nkabinde, Chief of Staff in the Ministry of Police, while Nkabinde testified in November last year. Second, O’Sullivan walked out without the chairperson’s permission during his appearance before MPs last month. Parliament’s legal advisor, Andile Tetyana, explained that the case was opened at Cape Town police station last Thursday. Tetyana noted that Parliament has been informed the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), known as the Hawks, will handle the investigation. He added: “Importantly the referral of these cases to the Hawks, makes it clear, the acts by Mr O’Sullivan, in respect of Mr Nkabinde and walkout, has been classified as national priority offences.”