‘Russian’ linked to extortion racket
IGOR “the Russian” Russol intimidated a city businessman by arriving at his premises with four armed men, dressed in black and demanding money, the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday.
Russol also apparently mentioned his links to slain nightclub kingpin Yuri “the Russian” Ulianitski, his best friend, to show businessmen in the city how powerful he was.
Further links between Russol and other alleged underworld businessmen were established during Russol’s lengthy bail proceedings.
A large portion of the proceedings focused on stories published in the Cape Times on January 16, based on an interview with Russol, during which he described an ongoing battle for control of resources in the city and how he had filled Ulianitski’s shoes since his murder. The State referred to the articles, two of which were read out, when outlining why Russol should not be granted bail. Other reasons were also given.
Russol, who has no previous convictions or pending cases, is charged with extortion to the value of R730 000, theft to the value of R250 000 and intimidation.
He allegedly extorted and intimidated local businessmen between November 2010 and January last year.
Yesterday investigator Kenneth Speed testified for the State. He said Russol, who was born in the Ukraine, first entered SA in November 10 years ago and had been a permanent resident since last year. Speed listed four temporary work permits granted to Russol between 2003 and 2010 and said the employer listed on all four permits was Mark Lifman Properties.
Mark Lifman, a Sea Point businessman, appeared in the same courtroom last week in an unrelated case focusing on his involvement in a bouncer company which had been operating in the city without being registered with the Private Security Regulatory Authority (Psira), as is required by law.
During yesterday’s proceedings, State prosecutor Aradhana Heeramun asked Speed if he was investigating Lifman. Speed replied that he was probing Lifman for
contravening the Psira act, but this investigation had widened to include organised crime.
During Speed’s testimony, details emerged about Russol, his two co-accused and their links with another alleged underworld businessman, Houssain Ait Taleb, better known as Houssain Moroccan, who previously worked with murdered underworld businessman Cyril Beeka and more recently the bouncer company linked to Lifman. It emerged that:
Simon Scott, Russol’s coaccused, had previously been employed by Russol and had acted as his bodyguard.
Scott allegedly initiated contact with the businessmen who were to be extorted.
Kevin Mark Bailey, another co-accused, allegedly instructed Russol to collect money from the businessmen.
However, Speed reiterated that Russol was the main player in the case.
He said in one of the instances of intimidation, a businessman had, in a sworn statement, said he had been approached at his business premises by Scott and an individual named Hussain.
It emerged that Hussain was Taleb.
Speed said Taleb and Scott had told the businessman that Bailey had sent them to get R250 000. “If the complainant failed to pay the money, they’d close his business down,” he said. Speed testified that at a later stage, Russol had demanded more money from the businessman.
“The accused arrived at the complainant’s business with four well-built males with firearms demanding payment,” Speed said. He said Russol told the businessman that he owed his former work partner Peter Cullen R6m.
But if the businessman gave Russol R500 000, Russol “would make the Peter Cullen ‘problem’ go away”. Speed said Russol threatened to remove all the stock from the businessman’s premises if he did not make the payments. Cullen denied employing Russol to collect money from the businessman.
Speed testified Russol had also demanded the businessman finance a vehicle for him, which he would pay off in three months. He said the businessman financed a silver Porsche Cayenne, but to date Russol had only paid a R25 000 deposit. “During their (Russol and the businessman’s) meetings, he made it clear he was Igor ‘the Russian’ and that he’d taken over from Yuri,” Speed said.
Russol’s legal representative, Pete Mihalik, said since his arrest Russol had co-operated with investigators and the State “had to do better than rely on the Cape Times article when opposing Russol’s release”. Judgment on whether or not Russol will be released on bail is expected on Monday.