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23:16 Sunday 25 March 2001

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March 22, 2001

Top cop accused of extortion quits

One of Durban's top policemen resigned this week after allegedly being caught attempting to extort R10 000 from a city doctor

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PAUL KIRK

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The resignation of Superintendent Christie Marimuthu comes days after he was arrested by members of the police anti-corruption unit and formally charged with extortion.
Marimuthu had allegedly called a Durban doctor into his office and demanded cash in exchange for dropping an investigation into his affairs. The detective, who was given the task of investigating organised crime, had allegedly discovered the doctor had submitted a dodgy insurance claim after household goods had been stolen from his home.

The doctor claimed he needed to withdraw the cash and returned soon after with the money. However, he brought the anti-corruption unit in tow. The unit set up a sting operation and monitored the alleged exchange of cash.

At the time of his arrest Marimuthu was facing several disciplinary charges. Last year police discovered a hijacked car on his property. Questioned by members of the serious and violent crimes unit, Marimuthu claimed the car belonged to his son. He was not charged but it was the second time a missing vehicle had been recovered on his property within six months.

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Police instituted a disciplinary hearing against Marimuthu on charges of misconduct. However, now that he has resigned from the police, the hearing will not be held and Marimuthu will walk away with a considerable pension.

Marimuthu was not available for comment at his palatial home north of Durban. According to men on his property who would not identify themselves, he was "out of town on business".

Over the years Marimuthu has been the subject of several police investigations - all of which have failed. The top detective had allegedly been fingered by police informers for numerous crimes - including the theft and hijacking of shipping containers from Durban harbour.

One investigation focusing on Marimuthu that was handled by the organised crime unit was nicknamed Operation Jamal, after a potent laxative that grows wild in Durban. The former head of the unit, Piet Meyer, is reputed to have chosen the name as he "wanted Marimuthu to shit himself".

Ironically, Meyer was himself in the dock this week. He is accused of having taken a king's ransom in bribes from illegal casino operations in the province, of protecting drug lords and members of biker gangs, and of stealing from the police by falsely claiming reward money for informers who never existed.

This week the Durban Magistrate's Court heard that Meyer paid cash for various large purchases, including a 4x4 that was financed by bundles of cash he took out of a plastic bag.

-- The Mail&Guardian, March 22, 2001.

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