Spy drama detective nabbed by police
31 December 2007, 17:15
Private detective Niel van Heerden, whose firm was involved in the city of Cape Town's "spy" drama earlier this year, has been arrested, police said on Monday.
Superintendent Billy Jones said Van Heerden, a former police deputy area commissioner, was arrested in Mossel Bay just after noon.
He was to appear in court on Monday afternoon. Jones said he did not yet know the charges.
Van Heerden owns the Mossel Bay franchise of George Fivaz and Associates, a firm of private investigators.
An employee of Van Heerden's, Phillip du Toit, carried out the city of Cape Town's controversial secret probe this year into the activities of renegade councillor Badhi Chaaban.
Du Toit was then himself arrested in connection with a truck hijacking.
Van Heerden was also involved in the high-profile case of the murder of Stellenbosch student Inge Lotz. Lotz' parents hired him to investigate the 2005 killing.
Following the acquittal last month of Lotz' boyfriend Fred van der Vyver, Van Heerden laid charges of defeating the ends of justice against two key police investigators in the case.
He accused them of withholding pertinent information from the court.
He also laid a charge of perjury against another person whom he claimed lied while giving evidence.
Their actions could have led to a life sentence for Van der Vyver, an innocent man, he said. - Sapa
Superintendent Billy Jones said Van Heerden, a former police deputy area commissioner, was arrested in Mossel Bay just after noon.
He was to appear in court on Monday afternoon. Jones said he did not yet know the charges.
Van Heerden owns the Mossel Bay franchise of George Fivaz and Associates, a firm of private investigators.
An employee of Van Heerden's, Phillip du Toit, carried out the city of Cape Town's controversial secret probe this year into the activities of renegade councillor Badhi Chaaban.
Du Toit was then himself arrested in connection with a truck hijacking.
Van Heerden was also involved in the high-profile case of the murder of Stellenbosch student Inge Lotz. Lotz' parents hired him to investigate the 2005 killing.
Following the acquittal last month of Lotz' boyfriend Fred van der Vyver, Van Heerden laid charges of defeating the ends of justice against two key police investigators in the case.
He accused them of withholding pertinent information from the court.
He also laid a charge of perjury against another person whom he claimed lied while giving evidence.
Their actions could have led to a life sentence for Van der Vyver, an innocent man, he said. - Sapa
Durban
