Tiso Black Star journalist Ranjeni Munusamy has denied benefitting from a Crime Intelligence slush fund.
Munusamy told News24 on Monday that allegations made against her at the state capture commission of inquiry are baseless.
The allegations are baseless against me. I did not benefit from any of the said funds, but I can only respond via the commission and the documents are in the process of being filed.
Ranjeni Munusamy
She indicated that her lawyers are preparing her defence and will file papers at the inquiry in due course.
BMW allegedly serviced
Earlier on Monday, a former Crime Intelligence official told the commission that about R40,000 was used to service Munusamy’s BMW convertible in 2008.
The official, Colonel Dhananjaya Naidoo, has turned into a state witness and is in a witness protection programme.
He also alleged that Munusamy was among journalists used by Crime Intelligence “to plant stories in the media.”
Earlier allegations
Munusamy is currently on special leave from Tiso Black Star after her alleged links to Crime Intelligence first emerged at the inquiry earlier in September.
A Hawks investigator, Col Kobus Roelofse, was the first to make the allegations.
He testified that R143,621.78 was allegedly paid to Wesbank Vehicle Finance to settle a car in Munusamy’s name.
This money allegedly came from Crime Intelligence’s slush fund. Munusamy was reportedly self-employed at the time.
Roelofse said he became aware of the alleged payment while investigating corruption claims against Crime Intelligence officials.
Munusamy similarly denied the allegations.