Court fight over spying device records

The Right2Know Campaign has challenged the State Security minister and SAPS about the discovery of a super-spying device.

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Johannesburg - The Right2Know Campaign has challenged State Security Minister David Mahlobo and the SAPS to account to the public about the recent discovery of a super-spying device.

R2K’s Murray Hunter said he was surprised by the the government’s silence after police confiscated the device from three men in Pretoria.

He said the use of the surveillance device posed a “serious threat as it violates constitutional rights of ordinary citizens”.

“What is more worrying is that none of the security agency is saying anything about this. This is a serious matter,” Hunter said.

The “Grabber” is a spying gadget which can bug up to 10 000 cellphone lines live. The powerful tool can also be used to locate people, jam networks; download and intercept SMSes; send SMSes to any number, detect other surveillance devices and block them.

R2K has made a Promotion of Access to Information Act application to force the agencies to reveal records of the procurements of the devices.

R2K was joined in its application by the Open Democracy Advice Centre.

Their application comes a few weeks after the arrest of Willie Lotter and two other men found in possession of the prohibited device in a sting operation in Pretoria. The two others were released due to lack of evidence.

“In that context, the fact that the police and State Security Agency have kept absolutely silent is very worrying. There has been no denial, no engagement, just silence. They really need to account to the public at large.

“Parliament and the Inspector General of Intelligence must also wake from their slumber and start demanding answers to these questions.

“They have a constitutional obligation to ensure that citizens’ rights are not being abused by rogue surveillance,” Hunter said.

“Who is guarding against abuses of people’s constitutional rights? If these devices are being used in secret, have government officials deliberately hidden that fact because they know they are on thin ice, legally speaking?”

 

The parties filed applications to the SAPS, the State Security Agency, the Department of Public Works and National Treasury last week, asking for the records of the procurements of the spying device known as the “Grabber”.

State Security Agency spokesman Brian Dube

and Hawks spokesman, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said investigations were ongoing.

The Sunday Independent