Cops crack licence ring
Some of the suspects arrested on Tuesday on charges of fraud, defeating the administration of justice and contravention of the Firearms Control Act appeared at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court yesterday and were released under varying conditions of bail.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naildoo, Nafiz Modack was granted R10 000 bail and is required to report at Bothasig police station three times a week, Anwa Gallie was granted R10 000 bail and is required to report at Sophiatown police station three times a week, while Sergeant Lesiba Rodney Masoga was granted R5 000 bail with no conditions.
“All these accused must appear in the High Court in Johannesburg on 10 July, together with the other 13 accused,” Naidoo said in a statement.
Rehana Ismail (wife of Modack), Roshana Ismail (twin sister of Rehana Ismail), Faried Cassiem, Abdulaliem Ismail and Natasha Vandalene Manuel have to appear on the same day as well in the same court.
“These five accused were arrested earlier this month, bringing the total to 21 the number of suspects arrested so far,” Naidoo said. “At least five more accused are still outstanding and they are expected to be arrested soon.”
Naidoo said the national Anti-Gang Unit in the Western Cape under the leadership of Major-General Andre Lincoln has been investigating, among others, charges relating to fraud, defeating the administration of justice and contravention of the Firearms Control Act on multiple case dockets in Edenvale, Kempton Park and Norwood in Gauteng.
“During November 2017, police received information on alleged fraud and corruption relating to firearm licence applications taking place between Cape Town and Gauteng,” Naidoo said.
“In January 2018, it was found that several people, including Cape Town underworld figures and their family and friends, allegedly obtained their competency certificates and firearm licences to possess a firearm, as well as temporary authorisation to possess a firearm in an allegedly wrongful manner.”
Investigations revealed applicants made these applications in Gauteng, specifically in Edenvale, Norwood and Kempton Park.
The investigations were centred on police stations in those areas, even though the possibility of other stations being involved cannot be ruled out, Naidoo added.
“These investigations initially began when a few persons of interest appeared to possess firearms legally. The investigations started to reveal, among others, that residential addresses were falsified or misrepresented on the applications, information regarding the status of applicants were not revealed and mandatory checks by police were not conducted.” – News24 Wire, additional reporting Amanda Watson
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Ignoring established protocol