Claims of police corruption fly in Cape Town gang boss trial

25 January 2018 - 07:00 By Aron Hyman
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An affidavit presented to the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, written by alleged Cape Town extortion racketeer Grant Veroni, predicts his own arrest and release on a meagre bail sum. File photo.
An affidavit presented to the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court, written by alleged Cape Town extortion racketeer Grant Veroni, predicts his own arrest and release on a meagre bail sum. File photo.
Image: Supplied

How did a man who was arrested for possession of illegal firearms know that police would allow him to get bail eight days before he was even arrested? An alleged gang boss told him.

An affidavit written by alleged Cape Town extortion racketeer Grant Veroni at the Goodwood police station on January 12 predicts his own arrest and release on a meagre bail sum.

The affidavit was presented to the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court by advocate Bruce Hendricks during the bail application for five men‚ including Hendricks’ client‚ Colin Booysen‚ and Nafiz Modack‚ who is alleged to be running a massive national extortion syndicate.

Hendricks also represents Veroni.

Hendricks has been cross-examining the investigating officer in the case‚ Colonel Charl Kinnear‚ over evidence he led in court in an attempt to prevent the five suspects from getting bail.

Hendricks accused an allegedly corrupt faction in the police - run by Major-General Jeremy Vearey - of serving Mark Lifman and alleged Sexy Boys gang boss Jerome “Donkie” Booysen’s interests when they arrested Modack‚ Booysen‚ Ashley Fields‚ Jacques Cronje‚ and Carl Lakay just before the festive season.

This was because the group - of which Modack is allegedly the boss - was in competition with Lifman‚ who controls security at nightclubs across Cape Town.

Numerous night club owners in the city centre have confirmed to TimesLIVE that they pay money to security groups belonging to either Lifman or Modack - and that they had no say over whether to use their services.

They did not want to be identified because they fear for their lives and the safety of loved ones‚ some stating‚ “I have a wife and children...” before tailing off.

Veroni claims in the affidavit that he was contacted by controversial Cape Town businessman Lifman on December 26 and told he should write a statement revealing the extent of Booysen’s criminal exploits. He would then ensure that “his police” would not oppose bail after they arrested him.

Veroni said he was contacted by “a member of a faction wanting to take over the security industry” shortly before Lifman called him. It is understood he was referring to “Donkie” Booysen.

“This person then contacted Mr Mark Lifman. Mr Mark Lifman then told me on the phone he knows about the warrant of arrest members of the Cape Town Cluster Unit has for me‚” reads the affidavit.

Vearey is the head of the Cape Town Cluster Unit and also the man driving the investigation relating to the group’s alleged extortion of the Grand Cafe in Green Point.

Vearey‚ who was present during Hendricks’ testimony‚ smiled sheepishly and shook his head in denial at the allegations.

“He informed me further that he can assist me with the case (and) he wants me to give evidence and make a statement against Mr Colin Booysen and others whom is currently appearing in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court 16 on a charge of extortion‚” Veroni said in the affidavit.

“He informed me that his police were at my house on 25 December 2017 Christmas Day but I was not at home‚ I informed him that I was at my mother’s house at the time. He told me if I make a statement he can relocate me and my family and also he will make sure I get R1,000 bail in the matter they have a warrant for me‚” said Veroni.

He said that Lifman then gave Detective Sergeant Edward Edwardes his wife’s cellphone number and Edwardes sent WhatsApp messages to her to arrange Veroni’s arrest at his home.

Veroni was released on R3,000 bail on Tuesday after being arrested on Monday. It was his third arrest in less than a year.

A source claimed he made a deal with Lifman that he would make a statement once he was released on bail‚ but that he never delivered on the promise.

The case continues on Friday.

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