JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – South Africa’s former spy chief has filed an official complaint of “kidnapping” and “corruption” against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In his complaint filed on Wednesday, June 2, Arthur Fraser alleged that Ramaphosa had abducted and interrogated burglars who stumbled across US$4 million “hidden” in one of his properties before buying their silence.
“Today, I have taken the unprecedented step of filing a complaint against His Excellency, the President of the Republic of South Africa,” said Arthur Fraser, in a statement.
“This complaint stems from the theft of more than US$4 million hidden in a farm owned by Ramaphosa in the northeast of the country,” Fraser added.
Fraser claimed that the burglary took place on February 9, 2020, and that “the president concealed the crime” from the police and tax authorities, “and then paid the culprits for their silence.”
Fraser accuses Ramaphosa of “obstructing justice”, and organising “the abduction of the suspects, their interrogation on his property and their bribery.”
He said he had provided the police with “evidence to support” his complaint: “photos, bank accounts, names and videos.”
Fraser is represented by lawyer, Eric Mabuza.
Ramaphosa has fought back against the allegations, insisting that “there is no basis for the claims of criminal conduct.”
Arthur Fraser registered the case with the police, a statement unavailable to the AFP on Wednesday had it.
Ramaphosa’s office confirmed that there was a robbery at the farm “in which proceeds from the sale of the game were stolen.”
The president, who was out of the country at the time, reported the incident to the police’s presidential protection unit, the statement from his office said.
He “stands ready to co-operate with any law enforcement investigation of these matters”, it added.
Fraser is seen as an ally of former President Jacob Zuma.
After running the State Security Agency, Fraser went on to head the country’s prison service.
In September last year, he was responsible for ordering Zuma’s release on medical parole nearly two months into his 15-month prison sentence for contempt of court.
He has also been accused of enabling corruption while he was running the SSA by witnesses at an inquiry into corruption in the country during the Zuma presidency. – AFP
