‘Rogue cop cleared Scharnick's record’

A POLICE officer is under investigation following findings that earlier this year, he accessed the police system and cleared the criminal record of James Stuart Scharnick, an alleged associate of embattled deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.

- WILLEM PHUNGULA AND MTHOBISI NOZULELA

The impromptu media briefing called by provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s office yesterday was addressed by provincial Deputy Commissioner for Crime Detection Major-General Anthony Gopaul.

Gopaul discussed criminal cases linked to Scharnick, who has opened cases, including one of defeating the ends of justice against the South African Police Service's head of Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, at the Pretoria Central police station.

Scharnick opened the cases after testimony from Khumalo at the Madlanga Commission which related to his alleged dealings with Sibiya.

Gopaul said yesterday that Scharnick had a criminal record linked to cases of carjackings and car theft.

He said police in the province felt they should respond as most of the cases took place in KwaZulu-Natal.