MODACK GETS SEVEN YEARS

ALLEGED underworld dik ding Nafiz Modack has been sentenced to seven years in prison, following his conviction for bribing a police brigadier.

The 44-year-old was found guilty of paying R146 000 to Brigadier Kolindren Govender in exchange for special treatment.

Modack was sentenced in the Cape Town regional court on Friday, but still faces a R46 million tax evasion case and is on trial for the murder of Anti-Gang Unit detective Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear.

According to prosecutors, the investigation led by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation Unit unveiled a scheme in which Modack colluded with former senior police officer Brigadier Kolindren Govender.

The duo's unlawful dealings resulted in the protection of Modack’s assets, among other favours. 

Specifically, Govender intervened to prevent the seizure of Modack's Mercedes-Benz, a vehicle central to ongoing investigations into his alleged illegal activities.

A statement from the Hawks read: “Modack [has been sentenced to] ten years imprisonment for corruption of which three years is suspended for a period of five years. 

“The accused will effectively serve seven years direct imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused be declared unfit to possess a firearm.”

Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi, confirmed: “Modack acted with common purpose by paying gratification totalling R146 000 to Govender in return for special treatment.”

The ramifications of Govender's actions prevented a police officer from SAPS Paarl’s vehicle identification section from cooperating with the investigative team at Cape Town Central SAPS, thereby impeding the flow of justice.

With Modack now set to spend time behind bars after his conviction, he is set to return to the dock early next month for this murder trial. 

The Kinnear murder trial was placed on hold in March, with Modack and his co-accused set to return for the trial on 6 October. 

They face over 100 charges - which range from murder to money laundering in the case centred on the murder of Kinnear who was gunned down outside his Bishop Lavis home in September 2020.