Pretoria – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has clarified speculations surrounding an anonymous letter directed to its acting head Advocate Mokotedi Mpshe.

“Speculation that the letter has anything to do with any of the high profile cases being handled by the NPA, including the Directorate if Special Operations [popularly known as the Scorpions], seems to have no factual basis,” the NPA said in a statement.

An anonymous letter reached the office of the acting National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) last Thursday. The letter was reported in the media to have been laced with poison.

NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said there were no traces of extremely hazardous substances found and the office was decontaminated.

The origin and the contents of the letter are still the subject of investigations, however Mr Tlali said the letter’s contents seemed suggest that is was from a whistleblower.

“It alleges negative conduct by an NPA employee, but it should be indicated that comments and speculations about this letter seems to have no factual basis,” he said.

According to the staff members who handled the letter, it had a distinct odour, but no one made a fuss about it.

Later, staff members who handled the letter complained about headaches and developed skin rashes, which led to the suspicion that it could be a reaction to handling the letter.

“It should also be mentioned that such staff members received medical attention on site and continued working shortly thereafter,” he said.

The NPA spokesperson further indicated that the acting NDPP and not the entire head office building had been quarantined on the day the letter arrived while tests were being conducted.

According to Mr Tlali, Advocate Mokotedi was not exposed to the letter.

The letter has been sent for forensic testing and the NPA is waiting for a comprehensive report from the laboratory on other tests including industrial agents.

“We would like to urge everybody to exercise patience and treat the suspicion that the letter may have been laced with a poisonous substance with caution,” he said.

He said that only after all tests and investigations are concluded that they could speak on facts. - BuaNews