Gerrie Nel must be a very dangerous man.

[Dave A]

It needed an estimated 20 armed policemen to arrest Advocate Gerrie Nel? I'm sure at least 15 of them could have been redeployed arresting drug lords or something really useful.

Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel was arrested at his Pretoria home on charges of corruption and defeating the ends of justice on Tuesday night, his attorney Ian Small Smith confirmed on Wednesday.

Nel, the regional head of the Directorate of Special Operations, also known as the Scorpions, was arrested by about 20 armed policemen in front of his wife and children at his home at around 9pm on Tuesday.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Lungelo Dlamini said Nel faced five charges including fraud, defeating the ends of justice and perjury.

He is expected to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Friday.

According to the arrest warrant the charges against Nel were corruption and defeating the ends of justice between 2004 and 2005.
full story from M&G here

Talk about intimidation tactics.

[Chatmaster]

There is some serious political war going on atm. The Zuma, NPA and Selebe I clear examples of something sinister that is going on. I will not be surprised if this continue until Zuma becomes president. There also no doubt in my mind that governement is interfering in the Selebe and Zuma cases. I cannot believe for one second that they cannot issue arrest warrants sooner than they have been doing. Another reason why we have been flying through NPA bosses lately?

[Dave A]

It certainly looks like politics is playing a big part in this.

But 20 armed cops for the arrest? Good grief! I don't see any violent crimes amongst the charges listed.

[murdock]

it is strange how every time someone puts a politician in the spot light they are arrested on some charge...doesnt it make you wonder...everyone goes on about the appartheid goverment...i am starting to wonder about this new goverment.

[duncan drennan]

The conditions of his bail are interesting....something along the lines of he cannot handle any evidence in the case. Effectively the charges have taken him off the case (if I understood correctly).

[Dave A]

He can't interfere with the investigation or evidence of the case against him - which is fair enough I reckon. It would be abuse of position.

[duncan drennan]

He can't interfere with the investigation or evidence of the case against him - which is fair enough I reckon. It would be abuse of position.

AH, thanks for clearing up my misinterpretation.

[Dave A]

The news articles I read were not particularly well worded on the subject, so it was kinda easy to get the wrong idea.

I see the potential for this case affecting Gerrie's position on the cases he is investigating anyway, though.

[Chatmaster]

The irony is just laughable. This is like an outright admission that there is some conspiracy going on. All charges dropped against Gerrie Nel

[IanF]

I just wish the powers in charge would just finalise these charges and get the cases over with. As country we must look to the future rather than dwell on what happened in the past.

[Dave A]

I find the difference between the handling of Gerrie Nel and Jackie Selebi remarkable.

Jackie Selebi has been assured he will not be arrested. Arrangements will be made with his lawyers as to appearance dates etc. All very civil as you might expect. And in stark contrast to the Gerrie Nel arrest.

Frankly, dropping the charges is not enough. Whoever was in charge of Gerrie Nel's arrest has some questions to answer.

It was gangsterism in uniform.

[Dave A]

The Democratic Alliance intends to submit parliamentary questions to Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula on last week's controversial arrest of Gauteng Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel.

Questions included:

- What was the line of authority with regard to the arrest of Nel, and who made the decision to move against him?

- Did the SA Police Service follow procedure by arresting an NPA prosecutor without informing the acting National Director of Public Prosecutions?

- What decision-making role did Selebi play in the arrest of Nel?

- How many SAPS members were present at Nel's arrest, what rank were they and what station were they from?

- What police station was Nel taken to, and why?

- Was there any basis to the allegation that Nel's cellphone was taken away from him and switched off, thus depriving him of access to legal representation?

- Would Nel's docket be made available for public scrutiny, and if not, why not?
from IOL here

I think the question about Nel's docket being made available for public scrutiny is typical of the DA taking things a step too far. But the rest look like great questions.

[Chatmaster]

Out of the questions being asked it is clear that the DA already know the answers to it. What is also amazing is the amount of people calling for the closing of the Scorpions unit or at least that it falls under the SAPS. I have a suspicion that corruption is far deeper in the current government than all of us believe.