Cape Town - A R2.8 million Ferrari and property auctions are allegedly at the centre of violent underworld clashes, which have led to two major criminal trials in the Western Cape High Court.
This is the revelation by alleged underworld kingpin Nafiz Modack as his version was presented to Judge Robert Henney at his trial on Thursday.
Modack, along with his younger brother, Yaseen, and several others face a raft of charges linked to the murder of Anti-Gang Unit detective Charl Kinnear, and the attempted hit on criminal attorney William Booth.
After weeks of delays, Modack’s Legal Aid lawyer, advocate Bash Sibda, embarked on a lengthy explanation about why his client believed the charges against him had been manufactured by police.
In his preparation for the cross-examination of Hawks detective Captain Edward du Plessis, Sibda told the court of Modack’s history as a businessman, where he worked alongside his father.
Sibda said the dispute between Modack’s alleged rivals, Mark Lifman and Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, started in March 2017 when he met with a Pakistani businessman, Waseem Choudry.
Modack said at the time he purchased a R2.8m Ferrari from a man known as Pallo. He said Pallo had a falling-out with his business partner who in turn ran to Lifman for help, saying he had not been paid by Modack.
Sibda said his client insisted the money was paid to Pallo, but claimed Lifman allegedly arrived at the offices of advocate Pete Mihalik and dropped off R200000 in cash in exchange for the return of the luxury car.
Modack refused and claimed he was later informed by Colin Booysen of his older brother’s plans to murder him.
Sibda explained that after this incident the two groups clashed at a property auction where Lifman successfully bid on two properties owned by Modack.
While at one of the auction sites, Lifman allegedly arrived with about 30 men and Modack arrived with security officers accompanied by Colin, who also brought his back-up.
It was at this point that Lifman allegedly pointed a firearm at Modack, who said he pushed the gun away, resulting in a fist fight between the two groups.
Later that night, Modack said he went to Mavericks to negotiate a new security contract in an attempt to remove Lifman’s control over the nightclub’s security.
He said Lifman had assumed control over the establishment after the assassination of security boss Cyril Beeka.
Sibda said his client curtailed the drug trade at various nightclubs, which led to members of the 27s gangs opening fire on the clubs.
The trial continues.