Crime Intel. Head, Maj-Gen. Feroz Khan, has asked the Johannesburg High Court to stop the police from accessing his seized devices, warning this could expose undercover operatives.
Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers
Crime Intelligence deputy head Major-General Feroz Khan has filed an urgent court bid to stop police from downloading data from his seized gadgets, warning this could expose undercover operatives and trigger assassinations.
In papers filed before the Johannesburg High Court, Khan argued that the SAPS conducted an unlawful and unconstitutional search at his Houghton home before confiscating multiple electronic devices, a firearm, and ammunition.
He demanded the immediate return of his devices and any forensic copies already made, identified, and destroyed.
Khan claimed the information stored on the devices relates to politically sensitive investigations involving vehicle smuggling, illicit drug networks, political killings, gang violence and murder cases.
He reportedly warned that if the material falls into the wrong hands, covert officers and intelligence operatives could become targets.
“In the wrong hands, it unmasks the identities of investigative officers, surveillance officers and undercover operatives in the investigative field,” Khan stated in his affidavit.
“To ignore this could result in death, assassinations and compromising undercover operations, the costs of which run into millions of rand.”
Khan also alleged that he handed over the devices under duress while armed officers were present at the property.
The application follows Khan’s recent court appearance alongside Gauteng Hawks head Major-General Ebrahim Kadwa and Durban businessman Tariq Downes in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court.
The trio was granted R20,000 bail after facing charges linked to the alleged unlawful possession of unwrought precious metal.
The case stems from the 2021 arrest of Downes at OR Tambo International Airport.
Prosecutors alleged Khan and Kadwa later falsely claimed that Downes was part of an undercover police operation, leading to additional charges of defeating the ends of justice.
Khan said the state has already indicated that its investigation is substantially complete, apart from downloading and processing the contents of the seized devices.
Despite the trio’s case being postponed to July 14 for further investigations, Khan’s urgent bid could be heard on Thursday.
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