Paul O’Sullivan’s former assistant Sarah-Jane Trent appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, where she broke down multiple times during her testimony.
Image: Phando Jikelo / Parliament RSA
Sarah-Jane Trent, an attorney and former assistant of certified fraud examiner Paul O’Sullivan confirmed to the Ad Hoc Committee that she had been in a “social relationship” with former Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) head Robert McBride.
Testifying before the Ad Hoc Committee on Thursday, Trent initially said it was a social relationship.
“I don’t know what word to put. For a brief time, we went into a relationship. It was not infiltration,” she said.
Responding to committee Chairperson Soviet Lekganyane, Trent said they saw each other every now and again.
“There was an attraction to each other, but there was no relationship that went on. I don’t really know how more to explain. It was not sort of I love you and I will do anything for you.”
Lekganyane described the relationship as “friends with benefits”.
She later told the Ad Hoc Committee that during their “social relationship”, they had meals together and confirmed they had been locked up in a private together “not too often”.
Trent called their relationship “a hook up”.
During her testimony, Trent testified that she started working for O’Sullivan’s Forensic for Justice, which opened cases on corruption in the criminal justice system.
She subsequently joined Paul O’Sullivan and Associates and also became a director at Forensic for Justice.
Her intense questioning, which saw her break down, centred on the investigations they did into former acting national commissioner Khomotso Phahlane, and accessing personal information of people, including former police minister Nkosinathi Nhleko, among other things.
Trent told the Ad Hoc Committee that O’Sullivan had initiated contact with the IPID.
“When McBride was returned to IPID, Paul O’Sullivan said to me see if you can get a meeting with McBride because we need to present this complaint about national commissioner. It’s a big deal.”
Quizzed about a visit to Phahlane’s house with O’Sullivan and IPID investigators, Trent said they went there to show the crime scene.
“I was satisfied in terms of the IPID Act they were entitled to receive assistance in an investigation and we were entitled to provide assistance at their request.
“This included as at when we have new information, carrying out forensic report checks on persons of interests, desktop research, and consulting from time to time.”
EFF leader Julius Malema said what she quoted in the IPID Act was not saying what she meant.
The Act provided for an investigator to request an explanation from anyone they suspected of having information, which has bearing on an investigation.
“The IPID does not suspect you have information of any sorts. This speaks to any person who might have information,” Malema said.
Patriotic Alliance MP Ashley Sauls said their investigation into Phahlane was due to his refusal to accede to O’Sullivan’s demand when he wanted him to charge a senior offiial.
He said O’Sullivan sent threatening emails to Phahlane and gave him 10 days, and warned that he would go after him if he did not comply.
“Paul O’Sullivan changed his target because General Phahlane did not obey,” said Sauls.
ANC MP Xola Nqola said Trent and O’Sullivan captured IPID and illegally accessed personal information in executing their work.
“In Project Phahlane, you had to first capture IPID as important weapon against Phahlane.
“Among strategies you employed is that one of you must date McBride and the other must provide financial resources as a way of capture so as to execute the programme of collapse of Phahlane,” Nqola said.
In her response, Trent said it was the most absurd thing she has heard.
“I have no time ever even thought of capturing anyone, let alone a state institution. It is absolutely not,” she said.
Trent denied she acted illegally when she obtained credit records of persons.
“What I do know this is above board,” she said. “I deny I am involved in any illegal operation. It is above board.”
ANC MP Khusela Sangoni-Diko questioned her conducting lifestyle audits as far back as 2016, when she only became a certified fraud examiner in 2019.
She also grilled her about obtaining the credit record of Nhleko, when it was asked by McBride via O’Sullivan.
Trent denied infiltrating and interfering in IPID investigations.
“The involvement would have been if they needed something, we were there. Absolutely no infiltration,” she said.
During her testimony, Trent broke down while giving evidence on her arrest, which she described as kidnapping.
She described it as embarrassing, but ActionSA MP Dereleen James said the things she did over the years were embarrassing.
“Were you crying because you got caught out or regret of what you did?” she asked before telling her that her phone was confiscated when she was arrested for defeating the ends of justice.
“You are not a victim here,” James added.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za