The man who took Ipswich anti-corruption campaigner Jim Dodrill and his father to bushland where they were assaulted on Sunday is a former senior member of the Zimbabwean police Special Branch with experience in covert operations and intelligence.
The man, Brian Oberholster, is a former Detective Superintendent who ran undercover agents in southern African political parties. He previously worked as a murder detective in a 20-year career in British South Africa Police and its post-colonial successor organisation up until the 1980s.
On Tuesday night Mr Oberholster told Fairfax Media he had been present at the incident in which the Dodrills were attacked but had not called police.
He said he had called local councillor Kerry Silver at 5.15pm.
Cr Silver told Fairfax Media on Monday that Mr Oberholster had called her at 4pm, which according to the Dodrills is the time they met him prior to the assault.
Police have still not interviewed the man.
Fairfax understands police have recovered some items stolen from the Dodrills during the incident.
The Dodrills have described being assaulted by at least 15 men after agreeing to meet a man at bushland in Collingwood Park.
"I still haven't been interviewed," Mr Oberholster said. Asked if he had been present at the incident, he said: "that is correct".
Mr Oberholster said he had agreed to make a statement but was "waiting to receive a call from the police".
"Once I've given a statement, then I will talk to the press," he said.
Mr Oberholster also said there had been "a lot of fake news and innuendo" published about the incident but declined further comment.
A LinkedIn profile under Mr Oberholster's name describes him as a "security and investigations professional" although there is no record of him holding a security provider's' licence in Queensland.
Jim Dodrill said he had given police Mr Oberholster's name and contact details on Sunday immediately after he was attacked.
Cr Silver also said she had provided the man's details to police.
Police have issued conflicting information regarding an investigation into the incident.
On Sunday night, Queensland police media told Fairfax someone had been assisting police with their inquiries but no one was in custody. On Monday, Ipswich police told media outlets including Fairfax that someone had been arrested on Sunday and released on Monday morning.
However, QPS media then told Fairfax this information had been incorrect, causing some media reporting to be retracted.
Ipswich CIB has since failed to respond to repeated inquiries about the alleged assault.
Jim Dodrill, the president of the Ipswich Residents and Ratepayers Association, has been a vocal opponent of former mayor Paul Pisasale and some other councillors.