Warrant Officer Morriss

Warrant Officer Morriss lied about putting the original exhibits with their original bags inside another bag, as forensic analyst statements do not support this claim.

“Asistant Director Maphosho said, Morriss is lying because Captain Nortje's statement does not mention changing the bags.”

There was suspicion and investigation into the changing of exhibit bags involving Warrant Officer Morriss and Captain Nortje, because of discrepancies between forensic reports and statements.

“We noticed the drugs were removed from Booysens and later were at Pretoria College, with rumors of drugs stolen; wanted a separate investigation on the changing of exhibit bags.”

Management decided to have a conversation about the bag changing issue but no concrete action or investigation followed, despite explanations from Morriss.

“Management decided they had a conversation and nothing came of it; Morriss gave an explanation but no investigation was done with forensic analyst.”

Statements and forensic reports contradict about the number and bags of bricks of drugs sent to forensic lab, causing suspicion of missing or stolen exhibits.

“The analyst report talks about 715 bricks received at forensic; Morriss and SAP13 count 700 bricks plus one sent later without SAP13 number; concerned about discrepancy.”

Warrant Officer Morriss is not included in disciplinary recommendations though there were serious allegations against him regarding changing exhibit bags.

“There is only one sentence in the report about bag changing issue and no recommendation against Morriss, only those allegedly involved at the scene.”

Assistant Director Maphosho states the issue of bag changing needs to be tested further since photographic evidence is lacking and clarification is needed from the Warrant Officer involved.

“... it was an issue that needs to be tested , because remember when this thing of changing this , especially this number of bags , they know very well that it needs to be photographed ... I was saying it was an issue of us confirming when we are investigating this case , because this is Warrant Officer Morriss who took the exhibits to forensic ...”

Assistant Director Maphosho confirms that Warrant Officer Morriss and Captain Nortje were together when the exhibits were taken to forensic lab, despite discrepancies about the bags.

“Yes , it was Warrant Officer Morris and Captain Nortje .”

Assistant Director Maphosho agrees that the statement by Morriss explaining the condition of the bags is not contradictory to Nortje's assertion that the bags were not tampered with, clarifying that damage occurred due to handling and transport.

“... the few unique forensic bags was damaged from the handling of the drug exhibits . The weight of the drugs in those bags and the moving of the drugs from Boysen to Pretoria West Training College and to the FSL . He says they suffered damage because of that . Now that is no contradiction to Nortje saying that they were not tampered with .”

Assistant Director Maphosho acknowledges he did not ask Warrant officer Morriss directly to explain the bag discrepancies, relying only on Morriss's prior statement.

“did you ask him directly to explain the bags , and you did not . You rely on him saying the exhibits were not tampered with , and you say that contradicts .”

Assistant Director Maphosho confirms that the statement given by Warrant Officer Morriss predates the case under investigation and was accepted by him.

“the statement that he gave to you , in fact , existed prior to even the case that you are investigating existed . Did you see that ?”

Assistant Director Maphosho accepted the old statement from Warrant Officer Morriss that relates to transporting the drugs, even though it was not freshly recorded after their conversation.

“You accepted the statement as he gave it to you .”