20/03/2001 20:19 - (SA) NEWS24
'Pilot licence scam cover-up'
Pretoria - The Democratic Alliance on Tuesday insisted there was a massive cover-up regarding the pilot's licence scam.
This was borne out by the latest in a number of strange incidents surrounding the matter.
A couple who were instrumental in bringing the pilot's licence scam to light had fled their Randburg home after two invasions of their privacy, DA MPs Stuart Farrow and Andre Gaum said in a statement.
Last Friday night, two men allegedly entered their house under false pretences, looking for documents linked to the scam.
Paul Rheeders, an attorney, and his consultant wife Natasha were not at home.
Domestic threatened with gun
When the two men could not find any documents, they threatened the couple's domestic worker with a gun, the statement said.
On Monday night, the bakkie driven by the two men again arrived at the house.
The Rheeders couple, who had just arrived home, sensed danger and sped off. They had since been staying with friends.
Early last year the couple, together with aviation consultant Colin Weir, drafted a document about the scam.
"They brought this under the attention of the Civil Aviation Authority Board, but the board reacted in a hostile manner."
Subsequently some of their clients instructed them to act on their behalf on certain matters involving the CAA. This prompted them to investigate certain matters more diligently.
Clients threatened with death
"During this time, some of their clients were threatened with death. Weir was escorted by the SA Police Service out of the country due to threats, and had to start a new life in Australia.
"The DA has little doubt that this latest incident is yet another manifestation of massive cover-up of far-reaching licence fraud directly related to the affairs of the CAA."
Weir had his briefcase stolen and car tyres slashed, and an MP had her computer stolen shortly after consulting various key witnesses in the scam.
"The DA feels that the blatant incidental and mysterious attacks are no doubt orchestrated and organised to destroy evidence in this case," the statement said.
"We call on the Minister of Safety and Security (Steve Tshwete) to thoroughly investigate this incident and to follow up all possible links with the licence scam."
The identikits of the suspects in the Rheeders case, which were released on Tuesday, would help Tshwete to reach "revealing conclusions".
'Political interference must be stopped'
Besides, the DA added: "It is... of paramount importance that all political interference with regard to this matter is stopped immediately."
Last week all charges related to the scam against CAA chief executive officer Trevor Abrahams were withdrawn.
The National Directorate of Public Prosecutions said it was not necessarily in the public interest to prosecute him.
Two pilots, both of whom had fled the country before they could be sentenced, and an official have been convicted in connection with the buying and selling of pilot's licence examination papers.
Reveal reasons for dropping charges
The DA said that besides a renewed police investigation, Transport Minister Dullah Omar should institute an independent investigation into the licence scam.
Justice Minister Penuell Maduna should reveal the reasons why all the charges against Abrahams were dropped.
National Director of Public Prosecutions Bulelani Ngcuka should indicate if he is willing to make available a nolli prosequei - a certificate issued by the state to allow for private prosecution in a case where the state chooses not to prosecute - in the matter.
Some of the people involved in the matter, like those whose relatives died in air crashes where a pilot appeared not to be fully qualified, might want to institute private prosecution, Farrow told Sapa. - Sapa
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I wonder what the CAA/politicians are going say to now...
[This message has been edited by WildFrequency (edited 22 March 2001).]