There was high drama at the Cape Town Regional Court on Wednesday when alleged underworld kingpin, Colin Booysen, was arrested INSIDE COURT.
The Anti-Gang Unit (AGU) stieked uit in full force, armed with rifles, to serve a warrant of arrest on Booysen and two of his bodyguards, Calvin Abels and Vuyisane Macingwane.
The trio are charged with the murder of alleged 26s gangster Adrian “Adie” Pieterse.
They shot him after he allegedly opened fire on them first during an incident in Belhar in September.
Last month they were granted bail, the conditions of which require they sign in at Parow Police Station twice a week and not interfere with any witnesses.
However, Booysen’s extortion trial was interrupted on Wednesday when the AGU came to take him and his guards in for breaking their bail conditions after he failed to sign in at Parow SAPS on Monday.
Booysen - along with businessman Nafiz Modack, Ashley Fields and Jacques Cronjé - are on trial for money laundering and extortion linked to a violent takeover of the local nightclub security industry in the Cape.
DRAMA: Anti-Gang Unit at Cape Town Regional Court gister. Photo: Noor Slamdien/ANA Pictures
The group was nabbed in December for allegedly trying to extort R90 000 from The Grand Africa Café and Beach near V&A Waterfront.
Proceedings were interrupted by the AGU and State prosecutor Mervin Meningo said he had asked cops to delay Booysen’s arrest until today.
“At this stage I have not been able to get a hold of the senior official in the matter,” said Meningo.
Booysen’s lawyer Bruce Hendricks says it was impossible for his client to be in two places at the same time: “We did contact the investigating officer and we were told he is no longer at Parow.
“The accused was in court on Monday when the State said he failed to comply with his bail condition.
“It’s far (in distance) to sign in at 7am (at Parow SAPS) and be at court for this matter at 9am.”
Magistrate Byron Pedro accused AGU cops of grandstanding and wasting his time, saying it took months of co-ordination to bring this case before his court.
DISRUPTION: Andre Lincoln and the Anti-Gang Unit. Photo: Noor Slamdien/ANA Pictures
“I don’t understand the logic of this. Open any newspaper and you would be able to know where the accused are,” he said.
“People are not going to abuse my proceedings to suit their own purpose.
“If Mr Booysen was lying on a beach in Mauritius, I’d understand but he is in court.
“This is a blatant abuse of power,” Pedro said, before ordering AGU commander André Lincoln to take the stand and explain his actions.
“It was never my intention to execute during the court’s time. I have and will deal with members who disrupted the courtroom,” Lincoln said.
The magistrate allowed the AGU to arrest Booysen, and postponed the extortion case until 15 April 2019.
An angry Booysen was led out of court and loaded into the back of a police van and driven off at 3pm.
It is not clear where Booysen or his guards are being kept.
robin.francke@inl.co.za