Lobby bays for Asvat’s head

LENASIA: RESIDENTS BRAND CPF CHAIR ‘A CRIMINAL’

‘How can truck hijacker be elected into community structures?’

Lenasia residents have once again called for the chair of the Lenasia Community Policing Forum (CPF), Ebrahim Asvat, to step down after his son was arrested for an alleged involvement in a kidnapping and extortion case.

Active Residents Against Crime are calling on the public to sign a petition in a bid to expose the “intimidation” in the legal process linked to kidnappings in South Africa.

In the petition, the residents question the legitimacy of the Lenasia CPF.

“For years we have questioned the election process of the CPF, finding it strange that a historic truck hijacker, known for his criminal involvement and consistent links to the Faizal Charloos syndicate, could be elected to represent the Lenasia Community.”

The group said that Asvat is yet to respond to any of allegations against him.

“Apart from the hogwash statement denying his relationship with Charloos, the CPF chair hasn’t responded to any of the allegations against him in the past.

“But this time it’s different … The public is demanding answers from the chairman of an office that represents the public of our community. The community is asking publicly, and we expect a public answer,” the group said.

The group posed about 30 questions to Asvat.

This is not the first time that residents have called for Asvat’s head. In March, residents accused Asvat of being corrupt and being involved in illegal activities, including a spate of crime that hit Lenasia and Johannesburg south.

In a message, that was widely circulated on social media and also shared with The Citizen, the angry residents called for Asvat to be investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).

The residents alleged that Asvat has been working with alleged Mozambican crime kingpin Faizal Charloos and other suspects, including his wife, Sadiya, who were arrested by police on 18 March.

In a message to The Citizen, Asvat said the allegations are “baseless rumours circulating on social media”.

“I can categorically state that I have not done business with Faizel Charloos, nor do I have any involvement with the allegations he is facing,” Asvat said.

Meanwhile police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that Asvat’s son Zaheer was arrested on Friday night

He is alleged to be involved in a “R25 million extortion and intimidation case which emanates from the kidnapping of a Lenasia businessman earlier this year”, Netshiunda said.

Asvat Jnr has since appeared in court and the case has been postponed to 19 May.