SAPS insider's role in altering businessman's criminal history

THE SAPS have revealed that a rogue employee accessed their criminal record system and made adjustments that benefited Stuart James Scharnick, a controversial businessman.

- MTHEMBENI VUMA

The briefing session held at the SAPS' KZN headquarters on Braam Fischer Road, Durban, was chaired by Major-General Anthony Gopaul, KZN's Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Crime Detection.

Gopaul discussed criminal matters linked to Scharnick, who has opened cases, including one of defeating the ends of justice against the SAPS’ head of Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, at the Pretoria Central police station.

Scharnick’s action came in response to submissions made by Khumalo at the Madlanga Commission, where he stated that Sharnick's criminal records indicated that he was linked to incidents of carjackings, car theft and had ties with criminal syndicates.

Khumalo also claimed that a Toyota double-cab bakkie driven by Sibiya, was registered in Scharnick’s name.

Scharnick has since disputed Khumalo's allegations; police in the province felt it was necessary for them to respond as most of the cases were tied to KwaZulu-Natal.