SHRIEN Dewani: Anorak’s at-a-glance look at the murder of Anni Dewani in the news – Dr Pox Raghavjee, alleged police corruption and a new witness:
The police are now protecting Mr Dewani from the media. We looked on as he left Southmead Police Station, Bristol flanked by police officers after fulfilling the conditions of his bail.
Dr Pox:
Can Mr Dewani be linked to the murder of Dr Pox Raghavjee in anything more than police-fed media speculation? Heather Raghavjee, whose husband was killed in a carjacking in 2007, says:
“There is absolutely no substance in these allegations, and my heart goes out to the young lad.”
Says Max Clifford, Mr Dewani’s media rep:
“How flimsy and ridiculous this whole thing is. If it wasn’t so tragic it would be a farce, a comedy.”
Still, Gen Bheki Cele, the South African police commissioner, has reopened the case of the killed doctor.
The Private Detective:
Christian Botha is a private investigator who was hired by Raghavjee’s wife to investigate her husband’s death:
“I spoke with Yashin Raghavjee, Dr Pox Raghavjee’s son, this morning [Sunday] and he told me that the family were happy that the case was being re-looked into and they are excited,” said Botha, who was quoted in the Daily Dispatch’s sister newspaper, the Sowetan.
What links the crimes?
Mrs Raghavjee knows the Dewani family. Dr Raghavjee’s daughter-in-law is from Bristol. And:
Both were killed when they were shot in the head and the cars they were travelling in were not stolen after the attack.
And:
His widow Heather travelled the 650 miles to Cape Town to comfort Dewani and his father Prakash after Anni’s death.
Mr Mbolobombo:
Hotel receptionist Monde Mbolombo alleges that Mr Dewani set up the murder of Anni Dewani.
Mbolobombo is a suspect. And like Zola Tongo, who gave a statement against Mr Dewani that saw 7 years knocked off his 25 years sentence, this witness might have reason to help the police:
South African officials are said have offered him a deal by which he would escape prosecution in return for ‘truthful testimony’. Five hours before the murder, Mbolombo posted a message on his Facebook page in the local Xhosa language which read: ‘You are plotting against me, but there is bigger trouble coming for you.’
The Money:
South African justice is in the news. Max Clifford takes a view:
“The South African police are orchestrating a politically-motivated smear campaign to protect their tourism industry.”
Two Attempts At Murder:
The Daily Star reports:
THE killers of pretty honeymoon bride Anni Dewani missed their first chance to carry out the hit, it’s been claimed.Cabbie Zola Tongo claims the murderers were meant to strike as he drove Anni, 28, and her millionaire husband Shrien through a South African slum – but they failed to show up.He told police he then took the couple to a restaurant instead where he hastily rearranged the hit.
The Corrupt Police?
The South African Times reports on a scandal in the SA police:
This December has been a fantastic month to bury a corruption scandal. The headlines have been dominated by sensational stories that push political stories of real heft from the front pages.We have had the Dewani murder mystery unfolding and dominating the headlines…One of the stories buried in the inside pages of newspapers last week was the announcement that government approved the dodgy deal to acquire a new SA Police Service headquarters in Pretoria.This is a major scandal that has been brewing for months after police top brass decided to move their headquarters from their current building to a new building in a R500-million deal.The new building is owned by Roux Shabangu, a man whose lawyer told the Sunday Times: “President (Jacob) Zuma is a friend of long standing of my client”.Now remember these words: the R500-million deal never went out to tender despite regulations stating that all contracts over R500000 must go through a competitive bid process.The Sunday Times revealed that police commissioner General Bheki Cele signed the deal to move SA Police Service top brass to Shabangu’s building almost two months before Shabangu bought it. These questions have never been answered adequately.
