of the wow. the, the former deputy minister of foreign affairs in the israeli government, the full mer, uh, is there any minister of justice diploma? is there any minister economics in planning, the fullness spokesman with the is there any labor buddy the foam, or is there any minister in the prime minister's office of israel? you'll see band ended the interview, the all right, do stay with us here on our to international up next. it was a couple hours by the, the, the,

the, the, the sometimes something happens to a person that is so awful that what they need the most at the outset is support and a friendly here in a perfect world. that is how it would always work out, but this isn't a perfect world. and when things don't go the way they should,

a strong person stands up. she stands up for herself and for others in the same position. even when the road becomes more difficult for fight continues, i'm john kerry ok, welcome to the whistle blower, the . 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 of the most dramatic and damaging things that a person can experience is a sexual assault. the loss of a sense of safety, the distrust of one's surroundings and the palpable fear that it could happen again are almost too much to handle. what a cell victims need is support the help and cooperation of law enforcement. a friendly ear, perhaps even a psychologist or psychiatry for us to help the victim work her way through the experience. but what happens when that system breaks down? what happens when a company that has a role in the protection of the victim acton,

an unethical, or perhaps even illegal way? that's when whistles are blown. nicole stevens was a victim of a violent assault where she was raped and strangled nearly to death. her injuries were so severe that she was placed on medical disability through that experience she was and continues to be treated with dignity and respect by her insure capital alliance, which is a part of south africa's largest ensure called liberty group. during the course of her disability, nicole became a domestic violence and civil society activist in 2020, another victim of assault reached out to her to ask for her help in processing a disability claim with the insurance company discovery life. she met with a company's legal director and a forensic investigator and was able to help her client receive his disability payment. the company's treatment of this client, however, was unacceptable. and nicole believe that it was an ethical and possibly illegal as

well. nicole then sought out other victims by a social media finding that many of them experienced the same unethical and illegal behavior at the hands of discovery. she now represents 7 clients as an advocate, and she's assisting another 12 people in a class action suit. and you're probably asking what this on ethical and illegal behavior is. well, simply put it's fraud. many of the victims have put their trust in discovery and many invested their life savings. the funds were invested with discovery, invest the company's investment arm, the broker with whom the funds were invested, was warned repeatedly that his work was not compliant with the law. but instead of correcting course, the broker disappeared. and he took all of his victims money with him. criminal and civil actions are currently pending. nicole now holds online domestic violence support group meetings that are open to all. she also assists victims in obtaining

orders of protection, exit plans and other domestic violence support. and she does all of this for free. she knows 1st hand when the victim needs that friendly faced. nicole stevens. thank you so much for being with us. we're happy to have you. thank you so much john, for having me as one of your gifts. it is truly an honor. nicole, let's start with the event. i'm going to assume change the course of the rest of your life. can you tell us what happened to you and how it motivated you to help others in need? is sure. and john, i was the area manager of an international lead taylor. and i was in a domestic violence. so we, i was right. and the strangled old list to get i'm sorry, i do suffer from p t s d store and it still makes me very overwhelmed talking about

it. or what happened was this, the, the, the, the, the coming months off to the assault and the wheels at work started for the move. and i, i basically lost my memory. and one of the incidences was i was driving on the hallway and i literally stopped in the hallway, not knowing where i was, where i was going. and that in itself is traumatic. and so i, i switch the status is of specialists not urologist and. and as a specialist to try and figure out what was wrong with me. well that being assaulted, i had blocked the entire incident out of my mind. so at that time i didn't know what is going on with me. so i was banks with the motions. i've seen specialist to

find out why i couldn't recall woods memory was, was gone, and i was subsequently diagnosed with see the dementia, which is a type of dimensions as both of us to be a depression. and during that time i was being placed on team pre disability and a few months after that the physical format and the damage started to where i'd be hit. i assessment multiple levels spawn damage from the civic for the rest of the numbers cycle. and they would moments of now and bladder in confidence, i would just lose control as well as sporadic episodes of parenthesis from the way stone. and so it was the, the main. so how this after logical format and their object was the physical trauma

that, that's came and it was during this period that because of the tool now i was having a lot of a to go and i'm for then, and monday the also to take me to the hospital for me surgery and my neighbor said to me, none of the timing of the, the writing in the company when i was in the ward. and i look to see to what he's talking about. and she actually explained to me the assault in her. she says now and it was as if i really didn't tactful american. both of the use the memories have come back and this year 99 percent of them have english storage. and i think i've become a christian again. and i think it's below its way of protecting me for those 4

years to, to show psychologically and possibly physically or do sessa in order to get me to this place where i can be of service to other people. in similar situations, you had a positive experience when dealing with the liberty group, the big insurance company. did it occurred to you at the time that you were having your case process that that there were a lot of other people out there who were not having a positive experience? what made you get involved with insurance companies? was it when that 1st client approached you june the entire process from, from the 1st i was booked off and hospitalized till last july, when the insurance company and it's one of the largest, if not the best in south africa, another to quit. and the day completed it, this payment is and it's now been proved, happens over time. and so we'll do whichever is the india and no ones do that

every in us that other people were going through. obviously i was going through my format. i was being treated with the utmost dignity and respect and compassion. and during my time in my disability, i've been detained agenda based province at to best and all 3 social media. somebody approached me and said that he was in a projected a full year and plain process with discovery loss. and when he explained to me what he had gone through, i was in complete disbelief because that was not what i have been accustomed to and, and, and it was not my experience. and, and in one of my linkedin posts that you referred to it as, as a mafia movie,

because it has all the trimmings of, of a mocking movie in, in hong discovery. life has dealt with the disability clips from a soldier and documentation, a fake date certificate that they supplied a hospital in order to get medical records for to bribing, extortion and human rights violations. so my experience was completely different. you to another space depressed the experiences that your clients have had with discovery were certainly not like your own experience at liberty group. what you've described happening there quite simply is a ponzi scheme, and there were warnings that that was what was happening. tell us how this happened and what are the criminal and civil actions being taken to correct it. what i also look into to believe is through

a group of 12 investors who invest in the last set and some, some of them who, who went on the time and gave the, the pension of i and, and visited with the broker of discovery invest. it's the same company, just a different division like discovery left and the warning signs were they for discovery, and yet they blatantly ignored us. they were the brokovich. these cons, dealt with his documentation has to be accordance in accordance with the student legislative requirements in terms of compliance on documentation that is needed to be filled out, etc, etc. and this broker was wanting to numerous times that his commission, which would be stopped if he didn't get his house in order. and what, what's the photograph it really,

really get angry because with my abuse, i don't take kindly to any type of abuse whether it's spousal partner, cobra, i've got a major problem with and when it came, she to discovery, investigate to in the case of the investments it was brought to their attention in the same between $221.00 and unless occasions again in january 2022 and i might be correct box tend to be corrected. might be the same between age 20 into january 2021 and the forensic investigator. any visits at this time who had tried to to get information about his money. this investigator une sold this, this client in february. and it was clear from the assets that the broker had run

away with the fence. and it wasn't just the one that was many others. so the total of which is approximately 18, monday and rent. so in the exchange rates, it's probably about a $1000000.00. um, discovery, i'm open to criminal charges in may some 3 or 4 months at a time. it was just the lexi days and co mana in which they dealt with the broker. they never locked down his office. they didn't confiscates any of his documentation. they didn't call in to police services immediately with they could have done a full forensic audits and taken his laptops order that nothing was done. it was done months later. and unfortunately, to this day, this bucket is still free and he hasn't been interested. and i am going to take the

administrative actions against the investigation because i feel that it is, it's definitely felt these instance, or some of them have been left on government grounds, which is a measly 1800 grand a month in which to this. so it's really, it's data stating what has taken place. it seems to me, nicole, that without a formal structure behind you, it would be easy to get lost in the number of people who need help. you're helping these people out of the goodness of your heart. and john, that you know, i have to deal with my house 1st, and i'm so fortunate in order to earn an income because of my disability and, and what i went through and that is put me in this position in order to help people safe charge. i didn't charge anything and it does become overwhelming,

especially on those really tough days for me with my health and fortunately discoveries kinds that i'm assist uh well aware of my issues and, and my health concerns and they're very supportive and you know, oh, with flat often one day, and i'll be mand down for a week, and i won't be able to do much. it will take me that long to recover. so as an when and also on the lines on the traditional system. so when i receive communications, i have to act and, and sometimes it's on a bit and sometimes of some of that day. i, as it is as long as use nicole, please stay with us. we're going to take a short break. and when we come back,

we'll talk about the broader scene for whistle blowing in south africa speak to. 2 2 2 2 the, [000:00:00;00]

the on the eve i do monday for keith to then city on or near we usually by lawrenceville and the senior level strategist very square and prosper. you may have solution in the meeting next 3 of the to the new system. kind of that watching 2 types, the remainder of the samples on the g 's used in quite some your subscription to the

most part of which was massachusetts, on some she did the 1st of all, but these are the what do you have in your struggle? the price was, 1st of all at the plaza pretty to ship the bridge a lot. if you do here, for the same, at some of the so much adds to it. yes, i did get the music me of natural to the truth and the solution in the but i'm with it's just the name and i'm with the system. i mean motions far enough too much better to for us. you mostly doing that, you know, i'm so you know what to do can give you welcome that logical. the new shows eat and stuff the motion federal was and then we certainly seduce

the the welcome back to the best employers. i'm john kerry. i could were speaking with nicole stevens whistleblower from south africa who drew strength from a terrible incident of domestic violence and use that experience to help others. good to have you with us. nicole. thank you john. i wanted to ask you a general question about whistle blowing in south africa. we've actually had more than several in the south african whistle blowers here on the show. and one of the complaints that they have that is consistent is that there is not only little govern mental support for whistle blowers, but the government is sometimes so hostile toward whistle blowers as to make the situation personally dangerous for them. has that been your experience at all or have you received government support for what you do? that's a great question. john, being

a whistle blower for another division of discovery limits as is the discovery health and, and it's not the case i can discuss because it is confidential at this stage and it is still very sensitive. but i've been extremely fortunate to have the regulatory bodies that overseas, the medical schemes in south africa i've, i've had not, i need the support that i've had the youth, especially investigations unit, the n d a. the national prosecution authority, as well as, as a government bodies supporting the a 100 students. in fact, a 150 percent. i've been extremely blessed to have the people working with me on that was hoping that in case when it comes to the discovery loss discovery loss and an off in my opinion is that there is

a road unit operating within discovery. last because they do not k for anything within the know that operates on the on punches and conditions they use. cuz it's an over today and ends on the disability cons. and this is often they've canceled the contract and they have even used policeman is to do the surveillance on the on times, which is absolutely disgraceful. so what i've done is with the disability, quit is we've now gone and reports of the police to the regulatory body, which is that your i a o independent and i a so i think i think it's internal say,

so is i coach. that's the independent director of investigation. i'm sorry, i'm at a loss of the way it's this is my, my cognitive thinking. i put is the regulatory body for the police services. yeah. and it's been, it's been really tough because we've had an investigator with i've been investigating these cases against discovery. and we have now found that the executive director of i pitch is now contributing with discovery loss in charging this investigator. i was investigating this, these charges of the police, me getting discoveries work in terms of the surveillance. so what i have done is i have now reported this to the parliamentary committee for policeman,

as well as the financial state to conduct with our teeth as well as the reserve bank and the oversee the insurance industry, as well as the piece on that side. another issue that's been consistent among south african whistle blowers is that prosecutors have not bought into the idea that whistle blowers are exposing violations of the law. and often times the whistleblowers find themselves in legal jeopardy when they go public. in fact, some of them have had to go into hiding or have had to leave the country. have you experienced any of this kind of retaliation? what's my experience? we've had the prosecutors on board. the problem is, is that discovery seemed to insinuate themselves into the investigations at some level of the investigation or the prosecution. and i can say the prosecution

because that is unfounded at this stage. but i'm sorry, i lost my train of thought. and in terms to that has actually been on board in terms of retaliation for me has actually been directly from discovery and discovery health. i received a, a n, a to these data, wanting me to refrain, to which i have responded, stating that what i speak of is actually factual and cannot be seen as any type of different nation. it is or in the public space, whether it's cold judgments of that nature release from the ombudsman. and i've had of age threats as well of my life,

which i have been in touch with the uh, the witness program with, with this protection plan. and we have spoken about it at this stage. i don't feel it's necessary and i still have a child is that time? and i know it's a that sounds a bit strange, but um, the space is not. it's not viable for me to get into witness protection at this stage. what kind of support have you and other south african whistle blowers received from whistleblower organizations? here in the united states, we're fortunate to have things like the national whistleblower center whistle blowers of america, the government accountability project, and myriad other organizations for support in europe. there are also a lot of similar organizations, but what's the situation in south africa? who would you turn to for support? uh, john, the that's, that's a really great question. um, you know,

with the likes of some distant pro june bellamy and apple williams that they would. and then whistle blowers in general, which would approach the whistle blowers house is equipped to deal and to support with others, whether it be for legal representation or accommodation, lots of income because of, of the loss of work because of the wants of living. so we have to was looking at his house, which is a great organization. they really do great with. finally, nicole, what advice would you give to whistle blowers and to would be whistle blowers who come to you for guidance? how can they protect their interests? the, the biggest obstacle a whistle blower has, is to,

is to type information that they have and to, to follow the route of the legal risk. so my advice would be to to seek the advice of an attorney, number one, and to seek out the relevant regulatory bodies who, who are they to protect them as well as to enforce the no, i'm so to typically be protected on the legal side. and also to be aware of your surroundings because you never know whose toes you step on and what threats they are off day. nicole, thank you so much for coming on and sharing your story. it's stories like these that we live to tell to help bring clarity and more importantly, healing. thank you. to hello, give ron. the greeting gyptian writer and philosopher one says, quote, you give but little when you give of your possessions it is when you give of

yourself that you truly get. and pablo picasso. arguably, the greatest artist of the 20th century said that quote, the meaning of life is to find your gift, but the purpose of life is to give it away. i want to thank our guest, nicole stevens for joining us today and for her strength and heroism. in helping others and thanks to our viewers for joining us for another episode of the whistle blowers and john curiosity. we will see you next time the. 2 2 2 2 2 2

the the now is the time to make decisions. i will run for the post of president of the russian federation. lot america and confirm today will be running for reelection next there it would be his 3rd consecutive term and 5th, overall as russian presidents. also this hour, the and guys on dozens are killed and wounded and it is rarely attack on a residential building near the palestine red crescent society headquarters in the southern city of con eunice, policy and official slam the us veto of a cease fire resolution that the un security council, as,