Ad hoc committee wants Paul O’Sullivan back after he walked out

O’Sullivan

Cape Town – Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee plans to engage Paul O’Sullivan to return and complete his testimony after he walked out of a hearing to catch a flight this week.

According to SABC News, committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane said the committee will first write to O’Sullivan requesting him to appear on a specified date before considering a subpoena, as it seeks to show that reasonable steps were taken to secure his cooperation.

“We must prove that a reasonable action has been taken before we arrive at a decision to subpoena the witness, and the reasonable action we are going to take, honourable members, is the same laborious and tedious action of engaging with the witness, including writing to him to inform him that the committee wants him to appear before it on a particular date,” the report quoted Lekganyane as saying.<

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National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza is awaiting a formal committee report before deciding on any disciplinary or legal action.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters has labelled O’Sullivan a “fugitive from the law” and filed a criminal complaint, alleging contempt of Parliament after he ended his under-oath testimony prematurely.

EFF spokesperson Sinawo Tambo said the charge is meant to compel O’Sullivan’s return to Parliament, arguing that his walkout has disrupted an ongoing investigation.

“The EFF has correctly characterised Paul O’Sullivan as a fugitive of the law,” Tambo said, aording to EWN.

“He violated the Powers and Privileges Act of Parliament by cutting short a submission while he was giving evidence under oath, which is impeding on the work of an ongoing investigation. So, the EFF has taken the right approach by laying a criminal case against him.”

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