Forensic fraud examiner Paul O'Sullivan returned to Parliament on Thursday to complete his testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee, following his walkout last week.
Image: Phando Jikelo / RSA Parliament
Forensic fraud examiner Paul O’Sullivan on Thursday defended himself passionately against accusations of intimidating behaviour, attributing his response to the provocation he faced from MK Party MP David Skosana.
O’Sullivan described feeling cornered and insulted during an encounter outside the committee room, which led to his outburst during the proceedings.
Testifying before the Ad Hoc Committee, O’Sullivan said he was followed out and screamed at by Skosana, calling him a runaway spy.
“If that had not happened, there would not have been a comment about 'go pay' or 'go settle the bank', whatever the words I said. I am not accepting that you have parliamentary privilege everywhere,” he said.
“Here, yes, you can call me all names under the sun, and I have to sit here and tolerate it. Once you are outside, you no longer have protection.”
He said he had responded based on the information available at that time, after he was tipped off by an anonymous person about Skosana’s default judgment.
“I was responding from the stomach and heart, not from my head, because I was tired of the insults I received that day,” said O’Sullivan.
He was responding to EFF leader Julius Malema, who accused him of continuing with his style of silencing and intimidating people.
“You thought honourable Skosana was the kind of person who sheepishly disappears when you tell him about his private and personal matters.
“I think that is how you got influence in society and law enforcement, where you come across personal information about people and use it to silence them. That fits into the narrative that you become a bully in the country where you do as you wish, and you wanted to do that with honourable Skosana and by extension all of us sitting here,” said Malema.
But, O’Sullivan protested that there was an earlier attempt to obstruct him from leaving when he staged a walkout during the proceedings last Thursday.
“When I left last week, I was followed out. Outside, without parliamentary protection, I was provoked. A statement was in the glare of the media that 'he is a spy and is running away'.”
He also said his outburst had nothing to do with bullying or trying to silence people.
“If the member had not been insulting me outside Parliament, I would not have said anything at all, but unfortunately, by that stage, I had had enough insults.”
O’Sullivan caused drama when he walked out while he was giving evidence.
His conduct prompted MPs to call for his arrest, that he be held accountable, and be charged for contempt of Parliament.
At the start of the proceedings, O’Sullivan apologised unreservedly for his conduct.
However, ANC MP Xola Nqola noted during his testimony that O’Sullivan had threatened the MPs and members of the committee, as well as Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde, while he was giving testimony to the committee.
Nqola also said they have heard from former prosecutor Advocate Michael Mashuga on Tuesday that he had sent threatening emails to former acting police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane.
“Why are you bullying people?” asked Nqola.
In response, O’Sullivan said his conduct might be seen as bullying.
“It needs to be taken into context with the unlawful conduct of those people against me,” he said, referring to those who had falsely accused him, unlawfully detained him, tortured, and levelled trumped-up charges against him.
“I am sorry it is seen by certain people as bullying, but what they fail to point out the unlawful conduct against myself and my family.”
DA MP Damien Klopper said his conduct could not be condoned despite his age and experience.
Klopper said his emails were rude and unprofessional.
“There is a very short distance between demonstrating toughness and becoming unnecessarily rude. Being direct is necessary, but it can quickly become threatening. Being firm can quickly become attacking,” he said.
O’Sullivan said with the benefit of hindsight, it was very easy to say things should have been done differently.
O’Sullivan defended his emails, saying some may appear rude or insulting, but they were intended to be.
“I apologise for being rude and for taking the fight to them,” he said.