Defence grill officer in Modack case
SHOOTINGS in Cape nightclubs are a result of factions between the old and new underworld security groups, the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court has heard.
Yesterday, investigating officer Charl Kinnear was grilled by the defence in the extortion and intimidation case implicating alleged underworld kingpin Nafiz Modack, Colin Booysen – brother of the alleged Sexy Boy leader, Jerome “Donkie” Booysen – Ashley Fields, Jacques Cronje and Carl Lakay.
Kinnear said the old faction comprised the Booysen brothers, prominent business person Mark Lifman and Andre Naude. He said the five accused in court were of the new faction.
On December 3, a bouncer was stabbed to death and another person wounded at the Cubana in Green Point. Two months earlier, two patrons were gunned down at the Cubana in Stellenbosch.
According to the defence, Lifman also placed a R20 million hit on Modack. It is the State’s case that the accused had forcefully taken over security at the Grand Africa Café and Beach, an affluent restaurant at the V&A Waterfront, which was previously serviced by Lifman’s security company.
It alleges staffers, the complainant Radley Dijkers and Stuart Baley, were threatened to accept protection that had cost them close to R400 000, for protection services rendered in May through until December.
Kinnear said the court should deny the accused bail due to the fear of his complainants. He also said a source told him that Modack would evade trial, but when pressed to reveal the source’s name, he refused.
“If I tell you where the information was received from then the accused will know who the source is,” he said.
Two recordings, cellphone conversations between Modack and Dijkers, were played in court. In the recordings Modack questions Dijkers on the intimidation.
Dijkers denies that they were intimidated or threatened to accept the security proposal. He also says one of the owners didn’t want any other security company besides The Security Group (TSG), owned by the accused, because she felt “safer” and “protected”.
Edwin Grobler, Modack’s lawyer, said the investigating officer had no case against the accused. “The witness has contradicted himself on the exact charges that he is putting against my client.
“I know you a hard working, but if a witness drops you like a hot potato? These things happen. Mr Dijkers dropped you like a hot potato,” said Grobler.
The accused were arrested on December 15. Their bail application continues today.