‘This is the ou we put away’

TWO days after a Chatsworth moneylender was found dead in his incinerated SUV, an accused in the matter allegedly showed his business partner a media report of the incident and said: “This is the ou we put away.”

That is according to state witness Logandren Francis, business partner to accused Dhanaseelan Manickam, who led evidence at the Durban High Court last week regarding his involvement in the murder of Narend Anandrai in the Havenside area.

Seven people, including former advocate Veronica Rathilal and former attorney Jayshree Baijnath, stand accused of Anandrai’s death, apparently over unpaid debts.

Rathilal, Baijnath and fellow accused Shana Mangroo apparently had a penchant for casino gambling and had borrowed more than R3 million from Anandrai.

Francis is not implicated in the murder, but did plead guilty in 2015 to defeating the ends of justice in this matter. He received a suspended sentence.

Anandrai, 46, was found dead inside his SUV in March 2014. He had been struck by bullets fired by hitman Gregory Pillay from a getaway car.

Pillay, who had implicated the seven in his guilty plea at the Durban Magistrate’s Court, was sentenced to an effective 18 years for the murder.

Pillay claimed he was promised R120 000 for the hit, but was only paid R20 000.

In his evidence, Francis alleged he had arrived at the business premises of other accused Rajendran “Trevor” Chetty in Clairwood on the night of the murder, March 18, 2014, to find Chetty along with fellow accused Sudesh Ghooruhoo and Pillay.

Francis alleged Pillay had alluded to the murder, telling him he was there to do “a graf ” (a job). Francis alleged a blue BMW driven by Mangroo, with Rathilal and Baijnath, arrived. The three walked into the premises, spoke with Chetty and Manickam, and left.

Francis claimed the three women were arguing among themselves.

He alleges Pillay, Chetty and Manickam left in a white VW Polo Sedan and returned after a few hours, which was presumably when the murder occurred. On returning, Pillay allegedly put his hooded jacket into a clear plastic packet. It was later discarded in a river in Clairwood.

Pillay produced a firearm which Manickam wrapped in a T-shirt and put in a box in a blue Ford Figo that Frances owned. The vehicle was later parked at Manickam’s home.

Later, Frances alleges, he, Manickam and Chetty drove to the scene of the crime in a company vehicle, and Chetty, referring to Rathilal, Baijnath and Mangroo’s alleged bickering, said: “See how those stekkies are acting, yet they wanted him dead.”

Two days later, Manickam allegedly showed Frances an article online that reported the murder of Anandrai. The case continues.