Brothels ‘n blackmail – due soon at a Cape court

BROTHELS, blackmail, people trafficking and money laundering. These are the grimy strands of a landmark investigation by the Hawks that has led to alleged brothel madam Shantel Bridger, 45, her boyfriend Juan Francois Warren, 39, and five accomplices, some well known, appearing in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.

According to investigators the case is likely to end up in the High Court .

There the accused will eventually face charges of extortion, money laundering, racketeering and human trafficking plus a variety of additional, as yet undisclosed, charges.

The Hawks have been tight-lipped about details. But according to reliable sources their investigation into a string of brothels in Milnerton Parklands and Tableview began about a year and a half ago when a disgruntled punter, fed up with being extorted for his dalliances at a Milnerton brothel, spilled the beans to the cops.

The investigation unearthed an extortion syndicate allegedly led by Bridger, who is accused of using sex videos of a number of brothel clients to blackmail them over three years to the tune of around R3 million.

At least two of the clients are expected to testify in the case.

Fur t h e r i nve s t i g at i o n revealed a more sinister side to the syndicate.

The prostitutes, some of them minors, were allegedly victims of human trafficking in the Western Cape. Those who are expected to testify have been secured in Hawks’ safe houses.

The muscle in the syndicate allegedly was supplied by Fareez Allie, 35, and Achmat Toffa, 41, who are no strangers to the dock. In 2014 they were acquitted of murder and robbery after appearing alongside Willem Frederick John Coetzer.

Coetzer was convicted for the murder of gay nightclub owner Bruno Bronn, who was strangled in his Sea Point home in February 2012.

The duo were arrested in February along with Bridger and Warren.

They have all been held in custody since.

Joining them in the dock this week were Deanne Collins, 33, and Bridger’s son Robin Reyneke, 27.

Reyneke has been charged with money laundering.