German South African expert exchange
"Why South Africa needs prosecutor-led investigations" - A great panel discussion
Programme for the event
HSF; HSF
High level Hawks official provides analysis
Brigadier Mtshazo from the Hawks outlined why experience seems to say joint teams of prosecutors and investigators are important, and a genuine, close cooperation with intelligence. He also stated the Scorpions' prosecution-led investigation model had proven far more successful than the current prosecution-guided model.
Adv. Willie Hofmeyr, Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit
HSF; HSF
Observations from Head of Asset Forfeiture Unit
Advocate Willie Hofmeyr, Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions and Head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, pointed out that as law enforcement has been captured over the past years, there was a serious lack of trust between colleagues these days as well which was hindering investigations and prosecutions. He also emphasised that new investigative capacity was needed to deal with serious organised crime syndicates successfully - which had not been the case for a decade or so.
Senior Chief Superintendent Bernard Egger, Head of Crime Investigation in Bavaria
HSF; HSF
Head of Crime Investigation in Bavaria shares German experience
Senior Chief Superintendent Bernard Egger, Head of Crime Investigation in Bavaria, shared the German experience of close cooperation between police and prosecutors to facilitate successful prosecutions, at investigation stage already. He also explained that cases could only be closed by the prosecution's office, not the police, in his country.
The panelists at the event
HSF; HSF
Productive discussion with well-informed audience
Based on the focussed audience questions and the incisive chairing of the debate by Ottilia Anna Maunganidze of the ISS, a frank discussion followed the speakers' inputs.
You can watch a recording of the presentations at the seminar here: