IPID Struggles to Locate Suspended IDAC Investigator Amid Torture Probe

PRETORIA – Suspended Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) chief investigator Dylan Perumal is allegedly evading law enforcement as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigates allegations of assault, torture and abuse of power dating back to his time in the South African Police Service (SAPS).

IPID investigators recently travelled to the Eastern Cape to obtain warning statements from Perumal and fellow investigator Suneel Bellochun.

While investigators managed to obtain statements from Bellochun and other people linked to the matter, they have been unable to locate Perumal despite repeated calls and text messages.

Sources familiar with the investigation said the case was at an advanced stage and that an arrest warrant could be issued if Perumal continued to ignore requests to cooperate with investigators.

The African Chronicle understands that sources have also claimed Perumal checked himself into a psychiatric hospital, allegedly to avoid contact with Ipid investigators. This claim could not be independently verified.

Perumal is among four people being investigated by the police watchdog over incidents allegedly committed while they were still members of SAPS, before joining IDAC.

The investigation involves Perumal, senior investigator Brian Padayachee and Bellochun, among others.

The Joubert complaint

At the centre of the investigation is a complaint by Lorretta Joubert, who alleges that Perumal and Bellochun assaulted her on 29 November 2018 while executing a search warrant.

Joubert alleges that she was subsequently taken to the Opera Plaza building in Pretoria, where the two officers allegedly tortured, intimidated and mistreated her.

She says she was interrogated over two days and denied access to a lawyer throughout the ordeal.

In correspondence addressed to National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and Parliament, Joubert described the alleged abuse as having had a lasting psychological impact, including persistent suicidal thoughts that she attributes to the trauma.

“Their sole mandate is torture and intimidation,” she wrote of the officers.

Joubert has also complained about what she says has been a lack of meaningful progress in her case, alleging that Ipid has failed to provide her with substantive updates for almost two years.

She has questioned why the case docket was moved to the Eastern Cape and raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding its transfer.

Her concerns date back to 2024, when she told reporters that repeated enquiries to Ipid and SAPS had gone unanswered. She said she subsequently learned from an insider that the docket had been moved.

At the time, an alleged Ipid insider claimed that some employees within the watchdog were colluding to protect the officers implicated in the complaint.

IPID’s handling of the matter has previously drawn scrutiny, although IDAC rejected claims of improper conduct.

IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the directorate had dealt with Ipid professionally.

“Nothing illegal has been done in our interface with them,” Mamothame said.

Perumal faces wider scrutiny

The Ipid investigation is not the only matter in which Perumal has come under scrutiny.

In July, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi suspended Perumal, Padayachee and Bellochun from their positions as IDAC investigators pending disciplinary proceedings.

The suspensions followed allegations raised at the Madlanga Commission that the investigators were involved in fabricating witness statements, manipulating cases and abusing their powers.

During the commission’s proceedings, two of Perumal’s IDAC colleagues submitted voice notes disputing statements he allegedly took in their presence.

They told the commission that the versions later submitted by Perumal differed from the statements they had initially recorded.

Perumal has also been accused of fabricating statements attributed to National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams in an attempt to strengthen cases against Crime Intelligence officials.

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Adams has since opened a criminal case against Perumal, alleging corruption and defeating the ends of justice.

IDAC prosecutor Drushanta Ramsamy made further allegations before the commission, claiming that former IDAC head Andrea Johnson and Perumal had launched what he described as “an orchestrated attack on General Masemola and Lieutenant General Khumalo” using IDAC’s investigative resources.

Johnson has since resigned from the directorate.

The allegations made at the commission remain contested and form part of ongoing investigations and proceedings.

Chetty’s allegations

Perumal and Bellochun have also been accused of misconduct by Gauteng businessman Kishene Chetty.

In an affidavit submitted to Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Chetty accused IDAC officials of pursuing what he described as a vendetta against him and reviving criminal charges that had previously been dropped.

Chetty told the committee in March that he had opened a criminal complaint in 2022 alleging interference and unlawful conduct by Perumal, Bellochun and prosecutor Tilas Chabalala.

He alleged that whenever he complained about their conduct, officials retaliated “by utilising the state machinery”.

Chetty also referred to Joubert’s complaint during his testimony, alleging that IDAC investigators had tortured her.

His testimony was itself contested.

Chetty faces several criminal charges, while DA MPs walked out of the committee proceedings, raising concerns that he was testifying without legal representation and could potentially incriminate himself.

The allegations against Perumal and the other officials have not been finally determined in court.

For IPID, the immediate challenge is more basic: locating Perumal and obtaining his version of the allegations as the long-running investigation moves towards its next stage.