'Top dog' Indian-origin police official in charge of Pistorius murder probe

The South African police has reportedly recruited a senior Indian-origin official and one of their 'top dogs' as the chief investigating officer in the murder probe against Paralympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius.

A detective for 29 years, Lieutenant-General Vineshkumar Moonoo, who is the divisional commissioner of the detective branch, has been described as the 'top detective in the SA Police Service (SAPS)' after it was announced that he would replace Warrant Officer Hilton Botha in the Pistorius investigation.

According to Sport24, the decision came during Pistorius's bail hearing when Botha was forced under cross-examination to admit that he had mishandled evidence, although officially Botha was replaced because it emerged that he faced attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting at a taxi in 2011.

In contrast, the report said that Moonoo has a blemish-free reputation and has succeeded in staying off the media radar despite the high voltage coverage of the case against the Blade Runner, who is charged with killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year.