Court told of bombers’ ‘extortion’

DETAILS of an extortion ring operating out of Reservoir Hills that used terror to make businesses pay emerged yesterday at the Verulam Magistrate’s Court bail application of 11 men arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder, extortion and kidnapping, among other charges.

The men were arrested in connection with the Verulam mosque attack and discovery of incendiary devices at Durban stores.

In an affidavit read out by prosecutor Adele Barnard, Warrant Officer Khwezi Chonco from the Hawks’ Crimes Against The State Unit said the evidence against the 11 was “overwhelming”.

He said the incendiary devices found at the Imam Hussein Mosque in Verulam were similar to those found at Woolworths stores and other business premises in the city.

Chonco said demands of $100000 (about R1.4 million) were made of the affected businesses. The money was to be paid through the “Hawala system” to Dubai, he said. This system operates on an honour system outside of normal banking circles, which consists of people using brokers to effect the exchange. Bitcoin accounts were also made available for victims to pay into.

“All of the complainants refused to pay the amount and their businesses were set alight,” he said.

When the Hawks swooped on the suspects earlier this month, they discovered manuals on how to make bombs and conduct home assassinations, as well as Islamic State (Isis) propaganda. Chonco noted that Isis had made an international call to its supporters to embark on a “financial jihad” of theft, fraud and vandalism.

He added that Isis had in its propaganda said it was permissible for its followers to get the “blood and wealth” of non-believers.

Another applicant was part of an Iranian WhatsApp group Jundullah, which means “Soldiers of God”. The group is a Sunni militant organisation based in Iran and fighting for the rights of Sunnis in the Shia majority country.

Chonco said the serious nature of the charges meant the accused were a flight risk. “As a result of my experience as a police officer, I am satisfied that confiscating the passport of an applicant/accused and placing them under bail conditions would not prevent the person from absconding. This is because of the extensive borders of the country making effective border control extremely difficult.”

Chonco said false passports were available and one could easily leave the country without going through a border post. Some of the suspects were foreign nationals who had expired visas and were in the country illegally, he said.

The matter continues tomorrow.