KZN Police Uncover SAPS Employees’ Deletion of Scharnick’s Criminal Records
Gopaul revealed that the manipulation occurred on 16 January at 16:58, when a specific SAPS employee accessed the criminal record system and made changes in Sharnick’s favour.
Police in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have disclosed that a member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) manipulated the criminal record of Stuart Sharnick earlier this year.
Sharnick, a known associate of suspended Crime Detection head Shadrack Sibiya, allegedly benefited from the unauthorised changes made in January.
The revelation came as provincial police held a media briefing on the matter, confirming that internal systems had been compromised to alter Sharnick’s criminal profile.
During the briefing, KZN Deputy Commissioner for Crime Detection, Anthony Gopaul,
questioned the integrity of the process and the reputational damage it caused the police.
“When I ask, I am trying to ask myself what is factual about your reputation, how will the South African Police Service be back-footed on the information we know about you?” he said.
SAPS Employee Linked to Record Tampering
Gopaul revealed that the manipulation occurred on 16 January at 16:58, when a specific SAPS employee accessed the criminal record system and made changes in Sharnick’s favour.
“On the 16th of January at 16:58 in the afternoon on that day, a particular employee of the SAPS went into the criminal record system and made some adjustments to the benefit of Mr Stuart Sharnick,” Gopaul stated.
The incident has sparked internal scrutiny within the police force, as questions mount over how such interference was allowed to happen within a secured system.
Sharnick Strikes Back with Legal Action
In a separate development, Sharnick has lodged a case against Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, accusing him of damaging his reputation.
This comes after Khumalo mentioned Sharnick’s criminal history while testifying before the Madlanga Commission.
