O’Sullivan’s attorney: He was not fleeing the country

Johannesburg - Forensic consultant Paul O'Sullivan was not attempting to flee the country, his legal representatives said in a statement on Saturday evening.

O’Sullivan was arrested on arrested by the Hawks at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday night in front of his two children.

Private investigator Mike Bolhuis on Saturday told News24 that O'Sullivan had allegedly committed immigration offences and would be held at the Pretoria police station until his court appearance on Monday.

According to the statement by O’Sullivan’s representatives he was not trying to flee the country as had been speculated.

“It is common cause that our client has opened criminal dockets against many senior police officers, including the acting Commissioner of Police, the Head of the Hawks and erstwhile Divisional Commissioner, Detective Services.”

O’Sullivan had allegedly been taking his two young daughters to London where they attend school.

The statement said that it is clear O’Sullivan was not fleeing the country and merely taking his daughters back to school with him having been due to return on Thursday.

“The police officials involved in O’Sullivan’s arrest and detention on trumped up charges include some of the officers that unlawfully raided our client’s offices in April 2015.

“As a result of the April 2015 raid, we launched an urgent application and our client’s computers were returned, the warrant was declared unlawful and he received a substantial costs order against the Minister of Police.”

Earlier on Saturday, Bolhuis told News24 O'Sullivan had three passports in his possession and was arrested for contravention of the Immigration Act.

"He was arrested by the Pretoria Hawks task team… other police units were involved as well. He was with his ex-wife and daughter.

"He had almost gotten away because of his platinum flight status, but we managed to flag him before he could leave,” Bolhuis said.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.