Referred to as: chief criminal investigator · Chief Criminal Investigator
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The investigation starts preliminarily upon authorization by management and legal decision-makers, based on briefing from the chief criminal investigator who they directly report to.
“the investigation starts preliminary ... It is a broad investigation from the briefing given by the chief criminal investigator, who we directly report to”
Investigators receive briefing from the Chief Criminal Investigator which sets the scope and tasks for investigations based on documents like section 28(1) authorizations.
“It is what the chief criminal investigator, as he does the briefing, from the briefing, we take the cue from there.”
The chief criminal investigator leads a team assembled to conduct the investigation, interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence which is analyzed by prosecutors who decide if sufficient evidence exists to charge an individual.
“The chief criminal investigator assembles his investigators ... you go out, you interview, obtain witness statements, other related evidence ... The team, put together with the prosecutors, look at this evidence, they analyse this evidence, the prosecutors look at it, and if they see that there is sufficient evidence based on facts, then they will start with a chargesheet on who they are going to charge and what charges they are going to put.”
Colonel Padayachee does not have sight of the section 27 referral affidavit initially and relies on verbal briefing from his chief criminal investigator who directs the investigation team.
“The section 27 referral, I do not see it. ... My end where I come in is the designation 28(13). It comes up to say I am now appointed on this preliminary investigation. ... The chief criminal investigator who we report to ... has the puzzle of what this whole allegation investigation is about. He briefs us, and we follow his directives from there ... we are the work soldiers out there. Management make a decision, authorize it, it comes down, we comply.”
Investigators follow a systematic briefing process led by the chief criminal investigator, who provides task assignments and guidance on evidence and prosecution.
“So when the chief criminal investigator does his briefing, we listen to what he has to say. We ask questions or whatever. We get our taskings and then we go out and do what we have to do, which is then, the prosecution now guides to as well, into what we should ...”