‘Remove top cop Vearey’

Western Cape MEC for Safety and Security Alan Winde wants top cop Major-General Jeremy Vearey to be suspended, claiming he is a liar.

Winde says Vearey allegedly lied about a phone call between himself and a journalist who was reporting on a story about police corruption.

Winde’s statement comes after Vearey’s colleague, Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear, last month handed in an official complaint at Mfuleni SAPS, claiming six cops in Crime Intelligence, who are investigating him Vearey and others, were “misusing” state resources in a “smear campaign” against them.

Kinnear headed the investigating into the extortion case against alleged kingpins Nafiz Modack and Colin Booysen.

On Monday, Winde said he lodged a complaint with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), demanding that Vearey’s conduct be investigated.

“It is alleged Major-General Vearey, who is the Head of Detectives in the Western Cape, denied the call, and in turn, reported the journalist to the Press Ombudsman for lying in an attempt to smear his name,” says Winde.

“Upon the publication of the recorded conversation, Vearey immediately withdrew the complaint against the journalist.

“This type of behaviour from a senior member of the police is completely unacceptable.

“I have lodged a formal complaint with the head of Ipid, and requested an investigation into the conduct of Major-General Jeremy Vearey.

“I have also requested Minister of Police Bheki Cele to institute the immediate suspension of Major-General Vearey.”

Vearey did not respond to requests for comment.

Ipid confirmed Winde’s allegations are being investigated.

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