Modack and anti-gang officer in court
ALLEGED underworld kingpin and controversial businessman Nafiz Modack and a police officer attached to the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU), Ashley Tabisher, appeared in the Bishop Lavis Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
In a brief appearance, the accused were set to bring forth a formal bail application, but counsels from both the State and the defence agreed to have the matter moved to the Blue Downs Regional Court.
Modack and Tabisher face corruption charges. Tabisher is alleged to have taken a R10 000 bribe in exchange for leaking operational information to Modack with a cellphone.
Modack also faces a separate charge of conspiracy to commit murder after a hand grenade was thrown at the Bishop Lavis home of former AGU investigator Charl Kinnear months before his assassination last year.
Modack faces these charges alongside two co-accused, Amaal Jantjies and Janick Adonis, who were not present at court yesterday.
Kinnear was gunned down in front of his home in September last year and, to date, only one person has been charged with his murder.
Modack’s lawyer, advocate Dirk Uys, brought it to the court’s attention that his client had two issues to raise.
Uys said that Modack is required to sleep on a concrete surface and this is causing problems with his kidneys.
“He has seen a doctor, but the cold surface has not helped and we are therefore asking on record for arrangements to be made,” Uys submitted.
He also stated that Modack, a Muslim, is observing the holy month of Ramadaan, yet there were no arrangements made for halaal foods. Uys asked for this matter to be attended to as well.
Tabisher’s defence advocate, Bruce Hendricks, said his client’s blood pressure was sky high and, because of the delay of the bail application, he was concerned about his job.
The matter against the pair has been postponed to May 14. They remain in custody.