Victory for scientist

A scientist's bid for the release of a forensic report which led to his resignation was successful in the High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

Ithemba Laboratories and the National Research Foundation (NRF) were ordered by the court to make the documents available for the judge to study.

The companies initially refused to hand them over.

Ernest Mojafela Murphy was once employed at the laboratory, a multi-disciplinary research centre administered by the NRF.

During his tenure, Murphy initiated an investigation into mismanagement of funds at the company but was allegedly stopped by the then chief executive officer.

Murphy was in turn investigated for mismanagement of funds, and later resigned due to a breakdown in the relationship between the parties concerned.

Now Murphy, who believes his name was cleared of the allegations in the report, wants the documents including a report of the forensic investigation, handed to the judge and to him.

The defence for the laboratory and the foundation argued that some of the documents might have been lost over the years. - Sapa