ISIS accused is given bail
ESHOWE property owner Ahmed Haffejee (28), accused of fatally stabbing Abbas Essop, a Moulana at a mosque in Durban, was granted bail of R150 000 in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Haffejee, together with 10 other men - all accused of having links with ISIS were arrested in connection with setting off a number of incendiary devices in and around Durban, as well as being implicated in the horrific attack at a Verulam mosque that claimed Essop’s life.
The ZO previously reported that Haffejee, a medical representative who often travels between Melmoth and eShowe, was arrested on the R34 after his property in the eShowe Hills Eco & Golf Estate was raided by members of the Durban Organised Crime Unit and a specialised task team.
Haffejee, along with Farhad Hoomer, Thabit Mwenda‚ Mohamad Akbar‚ Seiph Mohamed‚ Amani Mayani‚ Abubakar Ali‚ Abbas Jooma‚ Mahammed Sobruin‚ Ndikumana Shabani and Iddy Omari, were arrested in a coordinated Hawks raid on 5 October.
The accused face schedule six offences, which include murder, extortion and arson as well as charges under the South African anti-terror legislation known as the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorism and Related Activities Act. Some in the group also face kidnapping charges.
According to TimesLive, Hoomer, the man the state painted as the alleged ringleader of the group, was released on R200 000 bail.
Mwenda, Mohamed and Mayani were released on warnings, while Akbar, Ali‚ Jooma, Sobruin, Shabani and Omari had bail set at between R3 000 and R5 000.
Each accused is to report to the Durban Central police station every Wednesday between 6am and 6pm, surrender travel documents, not leave the province without permission and not interfere with witnesses.