Alleged gun dealer discusses plea

A DURBAN-BASED businessman who is alleged to be a gun dealer who smuggled firearms to the Terrible Josters gang in Bonteheuwel is discussing a possible plea and sentencing agreement with the State.

Anderson Padayachee made an appearance at the Cape High Court yesterday for pre-trial proceedings and was dressed in a black shirt and red tie.

He stood calmly in the dock before Judge Robert Henney.

Padayachee faces 61 charges, including eight counts of murder, five of attempted murder, money laundering, fraud, modifying firearms, selling or supplying firearms, failure to keep registers, failure to submit weekly returns and failure to produce firearm inspection document.

He had previously made his court appearances at the Worcester Magistrate’s Court following his arrest last year.

He is out on R60 000 bail. Padayachee is represented by high-profile lawyer, advocate William Booth. Booth was not present at court yesterday and had a colleague stand in.

The Directorate of Public Prosecution’s Christiaan de Jongh said they were discussing a possible plea and sentencing agreement. “There is a possibility that we will pursue the option of plea and sentence,” he said.

Judge Henney asked whether the accused was aware of his strict bail conditions, to which Padayachee nodded. He is to make visits for signing-in purposes at a police station and had to hand over his passport.

Padayachee’s bail was extended and the matter was postponed to May 6 for further discussions on pre-trial and the possibility of a plea and sentence agreement.

The State is set to prove that during June 2018, he participated in criminal activity in Goodwood, in that he allegedly sold or supplied firearms to individuals who were not allowed to possess firearms.

He is also alleged to have run a security service which he was not registered to do.

It is further alleged that he is a gun smuggler and failed to keep accurate records of firearms in his possession or lock them away safely.

The Hawks had seized 44 firearms during an intelligence-driven operation and others were confiscated in George.

The National Prosecuting Authority said the claim was that some of the firearms had been linked to criminal activities such as murder and attempted murder.