Take a step back and answer these questions:

How bad would the possible corruption have to be before you — as a prosecutor — gave a definite murder suspect and confirmed mass drug dealer indemnity? In other words in order to possibly obtain a conviction for corruption you need to give a possible murderer, huge drug dealer a walk.

How big would the corruption have to be to offset the crimes you are forgiving in order to achieve a conviction?

As corruption is minor in comparison to murder and drug dealing you would have to factor in the need for a massive amount of corruption.

Then you would have to times it by ten because the murder in question is as high profile as the accused in the corruption case. Then times it by ten again because the enormous drug dealing involved could potentially create any number of deaths and other crimes which are drug-related.

Then you have to ask whether an internal complaint on the corruption as well as suspension pending the outcome thereof while still convicting your drug dealer, alleged murderer was not possible.

Then you have to ask whether the public would ever sanction letting a mass drug dealer and alleged murderer walk in order to possibly obtain a corruption conviction.

Bear in mind that the witness might be considered truthful but the case dismissed.

In other words you don’t even get your corruption conviction.

Amazing isn’t it that in a country where corruption is almost a national sport we are prepared to allow a drug dealer and alleged murderer walk free in order to try and obtain a conviction — for corruption.

Forget the rest of the crap, let someone come and explain this one to me.

Then let them explain how determined we are to rid ourselves of the scourge of violent crime.

Author

  • Mike Trapido is a criminal attorney and publicist having also worked as an editor and journalist. He was born in Johannesburg and attended HA Jack and Highlands North High Schools. He married Robyn in 1984 (Mrs Traps, aka "the government") and has three sons (who all look suspiciously like her ex-boss). He was a counsellor on the JCCI for a year around 1992. His passions include Derby County, Blue Bulls, Orlando Pirates, Proteas and Springboks. He takes Valium in order to cope with Bafana Bafana's results. Practice Michael Trapido Attorney (civil and criminal) 011 022 7332 Facebook

READ NEXT

Michael Trapido

Mike Trapido is a criminal attorney and publicist having also worked as an editor and journalist. He was born in Johannesburg and attended HA Jack and Highlands North High Schools. He married Robyn...

Leave a comment