A senior staff member at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) who was leading the investigation into the sale of placements at its medical school has been arrested for defeating the ends of justice, reports the Sunday Tribune. Avril Sahadew (43), a forensic audit specialist, was supposed to appear before the Pinetown Magistrate's Court last Thursday but was unable to after testing positive for COVID-19, her lawyer told the court.
Sahadew led the investigation known as Operation Clever on corruption at the university where placements at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine were being offered in exchange for bribes. The investigation has dragged on for four years without anyone being charged or prosecuted. However, Sahadew was removed from the investigation in 2019, apparently, after a staff member laid a criminal charge against her.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbele confirmed that charges of crimen injuria, kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice were being investigated by Westville SAPS. It is alleged that Sahadew victimised one of the staff members and locked him in her office for probing a case ‘linked’ to her.
[link url="https://www.iol.co.za/sunday-tribune/news/ukzn-staff-member-charged-3ac27c04-ad76-4928-bbd0-27c0406a557e"]Full Sunday Tribune report (Access restricted)[/link]
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[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/report-places-sale-ukzn-remains-secret/"]Report on ‘places for sale’ at UKZN remains secret[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/ukzn-accused-hiding-information-med-school-places-sale-scandal/"]UKZN accused of hiding information in med school places-for-sale scandal[/link]
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