Local Criminal Record Centre

Suneel Bellochun ran his own fingerprints through the Local Criminal Record Centre and reported back that he had no outstanding matters or criminal records, forming the basis of IDAC's report to Adv Batohi.

“Mr Bellochun had gone ahead and on his own, through the Local Criminal Record Centre, put through the fingerprints to see if there were any matters outstanding... He gave a report back that there were no matters that were outstanding on the LCRC. And it is on that basis that prior to Advocate Batohi leaving office, we had compiled a report, Chair, which said that there was no one in IDAC... that had outstanding cases, previous convictions, or pending misconduct.”

The speaker denies failing to ensure exhibits were properly sealed and labelled, citing that this duty rests primarily with the crime scene supervisor from the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) and that the scenes were not processed at the depot due to an unusual risk assessed by Lieutenant General Jacob.

“I dare that I failed to ensure that the exhibits were sealed and labelled. Paragraph 14(3)(c)(iv) of the National Instruction 1/2015 stipulates that the crime scene supervisor from the Local Criminal Record Centre , LCRC, is responsible for ensuring that all the evidence collected is locked and handled correctly including being sealed at the crime scene where practically possible. Furthermore, SAPS National Instruction 8/2017: Property and Exhibit Management National Instruction, 8/2017 , at paragraph 14(8)(vii) and (ix) requires that drugs be sealed in forensic evidence collection bags and that this must be done in the presence of the suspect. The decision not to process the scene at the CHC Depot and consequently not to call the LCC was taken by the crime scene Commander , Lieutenant General Jacob due to the circumstances defined above on the unusual scene at the depot and the risk thereof.”

Lt-Col Sebola introduced Colonel Steyn to the scene to call relevant stakeholders such as the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) during the investigation.

“But I said , Colonel , can you , at least for now , assist in calling these relevant stakeholders ? ... LCRC should be the first to be called”

Colonel Steyn called the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) as part of standard procedure, which was supposed to be done urgently at the scene.

“Then Colonel Steyn called LCRC , which is a standard procedure , which is one of the requirements , which is the first thing that one has to do at the scene”