05 May 2019

The Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) has expressed disappointment over an article carried by Business Weekly & Review on May 3rd edition titled ‘The Day the DIS Raided the High Court.’

A news release from DIS states that it is concerning that the story was published without comment of the Director General or Public Relations Officer despite implications for national security and credibility of the newspaper.

The release urges the media to be vigilant against individuals that from time to time seek time to place the DIS in the middle of unnecessary controversy.

“The media should consider that it has an important role to play in matters of national security over and above the controversial headlines intended to cast the directorate in negative light, especially without legitimate information such as this story,” states the release.

The release further states that the responsibility to ensure national security does not begin and end with the directorate.

As a stakeholder, the release states that the media should be awake to ways in which it can be used to spread fear, panic and insecurity by people with unknown motives as it appears to be the case in the Business Weekly & Review story.

The release states that any DIS officer presenting himself or herself to any individual(s) or in any premises for purposes of search or seizure should do so with Powers of Entry, Search and Seizure as stipulated in Section 22 of the Intelligence and Security Act and they should produce a lawfully obtained warrant, having first produced an identity card.

“It is clear that the individuals cited in the story could not possibly be employees of the directorate nor acted on its behalf,” the release states. ENDS