Modack: 'Mask' payments had nothing to do with pinging

THE murder trial of alleged underworld kingpin Nafiz Modack took a sharp turn as the State grilled him over payments, SIM swaps and “mask” references all allegedly tied to illegal cellphone tracking, but Modack insists the money was innocent.

The Western Cape High Court heard yesterday that from August to September 2020, Modack had paid co-accused Zane Kilian R47 500 from his Empire account, coinciding with the tracking and assassination of Anti-Gang Unit detective Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear. 

The State alleges that these payments were for pinging services allegedly linked to illegal operations used to track targets.

Modack, however, insisted the transfers were for debt collection, towing of a vehicle and for masks.

Judge Robert Henney pointed out that Kilian himself noted in his 220 admissions that payments with references such as “masks” were actually for pinging.

Modack is still singing the same tune, insisting that payments were not for pinging and that Kilian was lying.

Two more payments followed in September 2020, this time from an entity called Ricky Holdings. One of these was a R20 000 payment on 2 September, which Modack confirmed he authorised.

State Prosecutor Gregory Wolmarans challenged him: “When you say you are responsible for the R20 000 payment, you did indeed ask [co-accused Ricardo Morgan] to make the payment to Kilian?”

Modack replied that Morgan owed him money for masks and that he told him to pay Kilian instead.

Wolmarans pressed further: “You say Morgan owed you money for masks and in turn you owed Kilian R20 000.”

Modack said that the payment to Kilian was for debt collection.

Wolmarans questioned: “Instead of you getting your money from Morgan and then pay Kilian, you took a shortcut and told Morgan ‘look just pay that Kilian guy’. 

“And it just so happened that Morgan owed you R20 000 and you owed Kilian R20 000. It all worked out lovely.”

Modack insisted again saying the payment was for debt collection.

The State further alleged that Kilian was bymekaar with the shooter on the ground in both attacks involving prominent lawyer William Booth and Kinnear.

Modack said only Kilian could answer to that, despite the overwhelming evidence.

Judge Henney noted a pattern in Kilian’s pinging activity, stating that the excessive tracking appeared to continue throughout the day of Kinnear’s murder in September 2020.

Henney said: “The shooter must have known that at 14:44:49 [of the fateful day] Kinnear wasn’t at home.”

The trial continues on Thursday.