Daily Archives: February 19, 2014

Barca faces charges over Neymar deal


Madrid – Spain’s public prosecutor sought Wednesday a criminal tax indictment against Barcelona football club over the signing of Brazilian star Neymar, a copy of the filing showed.

The prosecutor believes Barca owe the taxman a total of 9.1 million euros ($12.5 million, £7.5 million) in two agreements reached, firstly in 2011 and then finally in 2013 to bring the player to the Spanish champions from Santos.

Barcelona paid 10 million euros to a company controlled by the player’s parents, N&N, in 2011 with the intention of signing the player in 2014.

However, they brought that plan forward by a year to complete the deal via a complicated series of contracts last May.

The indictment claims there are “a suspicious number of simulated contracts…that deserve at the very least to be investigated for a possible crime against the public purse.”

Barcelona insisted that they have not broken the law at any point during the deal and signalled their intent to clear the club’s name.

“The club’s dealings with respect to this operation, and in light of all information available, were at all times in line with the relevant legal legislation,” they said in a statement.

“We express our total willingness to collaborate with the judicial authorities in this matter, as we have done since the first moment the issue arose and in any other area in which our presence may be required.”

The club’s former president Sandro Rosell resigned last month over the judicial wrangle sparked by Neymar’s singing, which the club said cost 57.1 million euros.

The process was started by a complaint being made by one of Barca’s own members, Jordi Cases, against Rosell for misappropriation of funds for not declaring publicly that 40 million of the 57.1 million figure quoted by Barca was paid to N&N.

However, in a press conference following Rosell’s resignation, the club revealed that the entire cost of the operation including Neymar’s signing bonus, commissions, marketing deals, a donation to the player’s foundation and other collaborative agreements amounted to a total of 86.2 million euros.

The state prosecution service in Brazil has also called its tax authorities to investigate the case to ascertain if potential tax fraud has taken place.

Earlier this month in an uncharacteristic blast, the player reacted angrily to the constant coverage over how much he cost.

“I’ve been quiet until now! But I can’t go on listening to all these things about my transfer,” he wrote on the social media network Instagram.

“A lot of people come out and talk a load of rubbish Ä calling our character into doubt.

“I also understood we have masses of false friends.”

On the field the 22-year-old’s first season in Spain has been disrupted by injuries.

However, he has managed 12 goals in 28 appearances to date and was involved as a substitute as Barca beat Manchester City 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday.

Sapa-AFP

“It’s not a job, it’s a calling”


To protect and serve goes a whole lot deeper for members of the SAP search and rescue team, writes Bernadette Wolhuter.

The dedicated team of police divers, who worked non-stop for six days to recover the body of Midmar Mile swimmer Herman van Straten last week, said while it was a tough job, search and rescue was their calling.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

immigrants to SA have a torrid time


Nathan Geffen has three suggestions to improve the lives of thousands of people in South Africa.

Cape Town – It has become taboo in much of the world to discriminate against people because of their religion, skin colour or sex. Despite recent setbacks, the same goes for sexual orientation. Gradually we are realising that these are arbitrary distinctions, at least when it comes to law and policy.
For more http://www.iol.co.za

Home Affairs to fight activist order


Johannesburg – The department of home affairs is seeking leave to appeal an interim court order that Ugandan gay rights activist Paul Semugoma be allowed to enter South Africa, the department said on Wednesday.

Spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said in a statement that Semugoma’s visitor’s visa had expired and this was why he had been prohibited from entering the country, in terms of the Immigration Act.

News agency Agence France-Presse reported earlier that Semugoma was detained at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg when he landed there on a flight from Zimbabwe on Monday.

According to the report, Semugoma applied for a South African work permit in 2012 but the application was lost twice. Home affairs then issued him a receipt for travel.

A number of South African activist groups called for Semugoma to be released, arguing that if he were deported to Uganda he could be at risk because of that country’s proposed anti-gay laws.

Mamoepa denied that the department sought to ignore the interim court order, even though its legal representatives were not present when it was granted.

“In this context, we appeal to the public to avoid imputing motive and thus communicating falsehoods regarding the reasons for refusing Dr. Semugoma entry into South Africa.”

AFP also reported that South African officials tried to put Semugoma on a flight on Wednesday, but he refused to board.

He has reportedly been volunteering at the Anova Health Institute in Johannesburg for the past three years.

Sapa

Taxi violence witnesses reluctant to come forward


Johannesburg – Witnesses of taxi violence are often reluctant to give information because they fear for their safety, Gauteng police said on Wednesday.

“This is because previously people who gave information were later targeted, some of whom were killed before the cases were finalised,” deputy provincial commissioner Major General Tebello Mosikili told reporters in Midrand.

She said taxi violence cost lives.

“Usually these people are fighting over routes and commuters.”

A R100 000 reward would be offered to anyone with information that would lead to the arrest of those involved in taxi violence. Mosikili sought to reassure those with information who feared for their lives.

“NPA has a witness protection programme for witnesses who feel their lives are in danger.”

She said 16 investigators were dealing with the taxi-related crimes.

“We have assembled a team of detectives from the Hawks investigation and provincial investigation to form a team and investigate all these cases.”

Mosikili said the team was already working on 108 dockets, of which 31 were court-going cases.

A 51-year-old taxi association chairperson was shot and killed in Zondi, Soweto on Monday night. The Star reported that he was Dorljota taxi association boss Vusi Shabangu. Two men shot him as he was reversing his BMW X5 out of the yard of his girlfriend’s house.

Mosikili also urged anyone with information on the killing of two teenage girls in Soweto to help police with their investigation. The girls, aged 15 and 16, were found dead in Dobsonville, Soweto, on Wednesday morning.

They were dressed in their school uniforms, and had cuts on their hands and necks. Police said razors, candles and their school bags were found next them.

“The 15-year-old was positively identified by her mother and the second is still unknown,” she said.

SAPA

NPA: Opposing Pistorius Trial Broadcast Senseless


Pretoria – Spending money on opposing a court application for live broadcasts of Oscar Pistorius’s murder trial will be futile, the NPA said on Wednesday.

The National Prosecuting Authority initially had fears when eNCA sought to broadcast the proceedings, spokesperson Nathi Mncube told reporters outside the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

The court heard an application by print media houses, eNCA, MultiChoice and Eyewitness News to broadcast the trial, which starts on 3 March.

However, the NPA’s concerns were allayed by additional provisions brought by MultiChoice, Mncube said.

“We do not want our witnesses to be intimidated. We do not want them to be exposed if they don’t want. All of that was addressed by the technology which MultiChoice brought and some concessions that were made.

“I don’t know if it makes good sense to the public to say ‘we want to [use] taxpayers’ money to oppose the application of a person we as NPA are charging’. It doesn’t make sense, we would rather focus on the criminal case we are pursuing.”

Responding to claims that Reeva Steenkamp’s parents were opposed to the bid to broadcast the court proceedings, Mncube said the NPA’s decision was in the interests of justice.

“We are not here to look after just one witness. It’s unfortunate that family is affected because it is their child who was killed. The people that are going to testify are not the family, but witnesses,” he said.

“I think what the family wants is to see justice served. That is our focus as well. We appreciate that it might be sensitive for them, but in the bigger scheme of things, the public stands to benefit more by watching these proceedings broadcast if the court grants the order.”

Barry Roux SC, for Pistorius, told the court earlier that Steenkamp’s parents had not been informed about the NPA’s agreeing to the live broadcast of the trial sought by the media.

A 24-hour TV channel dedicated to the upcoming trial would be launched on DSTV a day before the star athlete goes on trial.

The broadcasters proposed permission to use unmanned, remote-controlled high-definition cameras which would feed to all broadcasters, if the application was successful.

Judge Dunstan Mlambo reserved his judgment until Tuesday at 11:00.

Pistorius is accused of killing Steenkamp, his girlfriend, in February last year. His trial is to be heard in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria from 3 March to 20 March.

SAPA

Official: N Cape acted fairly on “inflated” leases


Kimberley – A senior government official confirmed that her supply chain unit in the Northern Cape social development department acted openly and fairly with leases, the North Cape High Court heard on Wednesday.

Judge Mathebe Phatshoane was hearing evidence in a fraud and corruption case against Northern Cape ANC heavyweights John Block, Alvin Botes, Yolanda Botha, and Trifecta director Christo Scholtz.

The National Prosecuting Authority accused the Trifecta Group of entering into a number of lease agreements with the Northern Cape department in which rentals, or rental space, were grossly inflated.

The accused have all pleaded not guilty to the charges against them or their companies.

Daleen Vosloo, former senior manager of supply chain management at the department, testified of various Trifecta leases with which she was involved.

“The department at all relevant times acted open and fair in the acquisition of office space. I can see that from the evidence”, said Jaap Cilliers, legal counsel of Scholtz, during cross-examination.

Vosloo replied: “Yes.”

Cilliers wanted to know whether anybody at any time attempted to improperly influence her to act illegally.

“No”, she said.

Earlier, Vosloo testified there was a huge scarcity of suitable office space in the Northern Cape.

It affected the state departments as well as the private sector.

“It would be acceptable to look for longer-term leases”, Cilliers submitted.

Vosloo confirmed his statement.

Cilliers added no state department wanted to be out on the street after a five-year lease expired.

“It is total chaos if a big department has to move offices”, he said.

Vosloo testified to reasons why, in many of the lease agreements, the department deviated from the prescribed tender procedures.

The court heard at various times the deviations were authorised by the departmental tender board, of which Vosloo was a member, owing to urgency and practical reasons to get office space.

The case continues.

SAPA

Health minister announces free contaceptives


Cape Town – A small under-the-skin contraceptive device will be made available free of charge to all women from next week, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told MPs on Wednesday.

Speaking during debate in the National Assembly on last week’s state-of-the-nation address, he announced what he called “the biggest family planning programme South Africa has ever seen”.

From Thursday next week, the tiny sub-dermal contraceptive device, about the size of a match, would be available to women at public hospitals around the country.

The device, which had to be inserted by a medical professional under the skin of the upper arm, conferred protection from pregnancy for three years.

“This device costs R1 700 if you go to a private doctor. But, we shall give it free of charge to every woman in South Africa, regardless of their socio-economic status.

“It will be available in all public hospitals by 27 February, and will reach all public clinics by the middle of this year.”

The advantage of the device over contraceptive injections – which could take up to 12 months for the effects to wear off – is that users of the sub-dermal implant could become pregnant within weeks of its removal.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Motsoaledi said it offered women more freedom.

“It gives women freedom to control their own lives. It can be taken out any time and if they want to [fall pregnant], it only takes few weeks to conceive.”

Some nurses had undergone training on how to properly insert the implant, and 4 000 more were set to do so, he said.

SAPA

Cops doing well- Witness


Cape Town – Detective work in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, is going well given the resources at hand, the station’s detective unit head said on Wednesday.

“I think we’re doing very well. I think if everybody puts in what he can put in, to his full potential, no one can fault you on that,” Site B Khayelitsha’s head of detectives Colonel Johan Marais told the Khayelitsha Commission of Inquiry into alleged police inefficiency in the area.

“Yes, we do make mistakes. You can only do so much with what you have.”

The station had a wish list for more vehicles, personnel and experts.

Marais said he was not a politician but wanted to draw a vision of policing from the newspapers.

He compared the tripartite alliance of the African National Congress, the Congress of SA Trade Unions and the SA Communist Party, with the SA Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority and the correctional services department.

“If we could work like that, without the split that is there now, we would have a much better criminal justice system and maybe the public would understand us better, and get more joy out of it [the system].”

Marais was asked what he thought of the performance charts within stations, which tracked a detective’s cases at court, conviction rate, detection rate, court-ready cases, case number integrity and absenteeism.

“Personally, I think nothing of the performance chart because it only measures about 10% of what the person does in a day,” he said.

Marais said the chart did not measure the amount of time detectives spent in the high court, the number of identification parades held and attended, the number of times witnesses had been fetched and the time spent at imbizos and meetings after hours.

“Is there any recognition in the performance chart of the burden you’re carrying?” asked retired Constitutional Court judge Kate O’Regan.

Marais said there was not.

The inquiry heard that two detectives on standby duty, from a Thursday to a Sunday, often had to attend, secure and process an average of seven murder scenes.

He gave an example of a certain weekend where the detectives had to rush from a scene to two other scenes after hearing gunshots, all in the space of five blocks that were inaccessible by car.

Each scene took an average of three to four hours to process.

“I know what was put into those crime scenes,” Marais said.

The inquiry – headed by O’Regan, and advocate Vusi Pikoli – was set up by Western Cape Premier Helen Zille after residents lodged complaints about police inefficiency, which was the apparent cause of a spate of mob justice killings in the area.

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Child rapist jailed for 125 years


Convicted child rapist Mzothule Sizwe Gwala was handed five life sentences by the Vryheid Regional Court on Wednesday, KwaZulu-Natal police said.

Captain Thulani Zwane said: “The sentences will not run concurrently meaning that he will serve his 125 years in prison”.

On December 8 2010, a 10-year-old girl was walking to a shop when Gwala accosted her and forced her into his house, where he raped her.

She told her parents, who reported the matter to police.

“During the investigation, the victim reported that the accused had raped her several times before in separate incidents,” Zwane said.

He threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the rapes.

Gwala, also referred to as Gabela, was convicted on five counts of rape.

Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the Vryheid family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit for their hard work in bringing the rapist to justice.

“This is a victory to the SAPS as crimes against women and children are one of our priority crimes in the province.”

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