Paul O’Sullivan is a forensic investigator and the founder of Forensics for Justice, known in South Africa for his work on police corruption investigations. His public career includes airport security management, involvement in the investigation of former national police commissioner Jackie Selebi, and testimony before Parliament’s inquiry into allegations concerning the criminal justice system.
This biography follows those documented professional milestones. It separates O’Sullivan’s account of his background from independent reporting and court records, and dates the parliamentary developments so that allegations are not presented as findings of guilt.
Paul O’Sullivan at a glance
| Detail | Documented information |
|---|---|
| Public name | Paul O’Sullivan |
| Professional work | Forensic investigation and security management |
| Organisation | Founder of Forensics for Justice NPC |
| Earlier executive role | Head of security at Airports Company South Africa, beginning in 2001 |
| Professional recognition | CFE of the Year awards in 2014 and 2022, according to ACFE South Africa’s conference biography |
| Book | Stop Me If You Can |
The appointments, organisation and professional recognition above are discussed with their sources below.
Career before Forensics for Justice
In his written submission to Parliament, O’Sullivan lists earlier work in building services engineering, property development and security. His abbreviated CV places him at IBM UK as a consulting building services engineer from 1981 to 1984 and at Chubb Security as country manager from 1995 to 1997. These are details from his own career account; the submission is not an independent verification of every appointment or qualification. Parliament provides his statement in its official witness document collection.
His airport security role is also documented independently. A 2008 Institute for Security Studies analysis identifies him as a former ACSA head of security and traces his disagreement with Selebi to airport security issues in 2001. This gives a specific institutional context for his later public profile as an investigator.
Why is he associated with the Jackie Selebi case?
Contemporary reporting connects O’Sullivan to the investigation that preceded Selebi’s corruption conviction. In July 2010, Daily Maverick described his investigative role and the conflict that developed after he joined ACSA in 2001.
The legal outcome is established separately by the courts. In Selebi v S [2011] ZASCA 249, delivered on 2 December 2011, the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed Selebi’s appeal against his corruption conviction. The judgment records his 15-year sentence and the underlying 2010 High Court conviction. That was a criminal finding against Selebi; it should not be confused with the later allegations concerning O’Sullivan himself.
Forensics for Justice, awards and book
O’Sullivan’s parliamentary submission dates the establishment of Forensics for Justice to 2015. The organisation became a central part of his public work investigating and challenging alleged corruption in South Africa’s criminal justice institutions.
ACFE South Africa’s 18th annual Africa conference speaker directory identifies him as the founder of Forensics for Justice NPC. It also records CFE of the Year awards in 2014 and 2022 and his book Stop Me If You Can. The book presents his own account of his investigative career; it should be read alongside independent reporting and official records.
Parliamentary testimony and the March 2026 complaint
O’Sullivan appeared before Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating allegations made by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 10 February 2026. Parliament’s account of that appearance records his denial that he had been a spy. His testimony was evidence before an inquiry, rather than a judicial determination of the disputed claims.
In a report published on 18 March 2026, Parliament said a criminal case had been opened against him on 12 March concerning contempt of Parliament and witness intimidation. The complaint related to his departure from a committee hearing before questioning was complete and a message to police ministry chief of staff Cedrick Nkabinde.
O’Sullivan admitted sending the message but denied that it was a threat. He also apologised for leaving the hearing. TimesLIVE’s report of 16 March records those responses and states that he concluded his testimony on 5 March. Opening a criminal case is not a conviction. These sources establish the position reported in March 2026; this biography does not claim a later court outcome.
Age, education, family and net worth
The sources reviewed for this profile do not establish a sufficiently reliable exact birth date or birthplace, a complete independently verified education history, or a documented personal net worth. Earlier unsourced age and wealth estimates have therefore been removed. Private family details are not needed to explain his professional career and are not reproduced here.
Editorial review: Sources checked on 1 November 2026. This profile prioritises named professional roles, dated reporting and official records. Later legal developments require a further source check before being added.
