Web of cop, mob links spreads wider

THE criminal investigation into top police officers in the Western Cape promises to expose a national network involving some of the province's biggest underworld names.

Two weeks ago, the Sunday Times linked Western Cape police chief Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer and three police brigadiers to Cape Town businessman Mohamed Salim Dawjee in a case that has the potential to bring down national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega.

Now, three independent sources with intimate knowledge of the investigation, which is being conducted by the Hawks, have revealed that the Western Cape underworld figures include car dealer and property developer Nafiz Modack; notorious underworld boss Mark Lifman; and Lifman's right-hand man, Jerome "Donkey" Booysen, alleged leader of the Sexy Boys gang based in Belhar.

Phiyega has been charged with defeating the ends of justice because she was recorded tipping off Lamoer that he was being probed as part of the Hawks case.

The Hawks are investigating Lamoer along with at least three police brigadiers - Darius van der Ross, Sharon Govender and her husband, Colin Govender. They are allegedly involved in corruption, money laundering and racketeering.

A senior Cape Town police officer said witnesses had also provided "affidavits and statements" alleging that police vehicles had been used to transport uncut diamonds and other contraband.

Another senior police officer said a security firm in Plattekloof "is central in unlocking the use of police vehicles in criminal activity".

"We suspect that this investigation has the potential to expose a big criminal network where police have assisted large-scale criminal activity," the officer told the Sunday Times.

Another source with knowledge of the investigation into the police said that the diamonds "could be coming from Namibia".

Both Modack and Dawjee denied any involvement with diamonds.

Meanwhile, Dawjee's links with the senior policemen were further underscored by two photographs obtained this week by the Sunday Times.

The first shows Dawjee at his R5.5-million home in Plattekloof next to a white BMW M5. The car, valued at about R1-million, is registered to Towbars Cape, Dawjee's company, which has done work fitting police vehicles with tow bars.

The second photograph shows the same car with a blue police light on the dashboard. Dawjee admitted it was his car, but said the light belonged "to my friend, Colin Govender".

He said a family member had broken into his property, taken the photographs and sold them to the police. "I never drove that car with the blue light in," said Dawjee.

He said Govender, who is station commissioner at Cape Town Central, had borrowed the car when his own was in the garage.

"He has often driven my car. We are friends. I've known him since our childhood in Durban," said Dawjee.

"He simply forgot the blue light in the car when he returned my car. The next day my wife took his light back to him."

The MEC for community safety in the Western Cape, Dan Plato, told the Sunday Times: "If it is true that he [Dawjee] has the use of a blue light, this raises serious concerns and would be an abuse of police resources."

Modack, owner of at least five Cape Town properties and several companies, including Auto Investment Cars, has at least nine motor vehicles registered in his name. They include two Mercedes-Benzes and two BMW convertibles.

He told the Sunday Times on Friday that he knew Lifman, Booysen, Dawjee, Van der Ross and Colin Govender but had no business dealings with them.

"Dawjee is like family, but we have no business together and never have had. I have met Lifman and Booysen but it was a long time ago - like last year ... It is confidential why I met with them," he told the Sunday Times.

Modack said he had met Van der Ross only once, when he laid a criminal complaint, and that he knew Govender "personally and well". "I don't have a relationship with these people. What is this about?" Modack asked.

Dawjee, asked whether he had a business relationship with Modack, said: "No. You are talking about different people now."

Dawjee told the Sunday Times that he was facing bankruptcy after being linked to Lamoer in an allegedly corrupt relationship.

Deeds office records show that 10 properties are registered in Dawjee's name.

Dawjee said his properties were all bonded with Standard Bank and that he was "living off his overdraft".

One source, who insisted on remaining anonymous, described Modack as one of the "biggest players in the car business".

"This guy is known to be fronting for Lifman by buying and selling. He also knows who gave Booysen a R2-million red Ferrari some months ago," the Sunday Times was told.