An alleged 27s gangster, accused of being part of an underworld murder plot to kill Nafiz Modack, has been released on R5000 bail after appearing at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Ismail Cupido from Sea Point is the latest suspect to be arrested by the Hawks for the murder of Steroid King Brian Wainstein, and a plot to kill businessman Modack and his manskappe, including Colin Booysen and former Springbok James Dalton in 2017.
Cupido, 42, appeared calm in the dock yesterday while his elderly parents sat alone in the public gallery, offering R1000 of their pension money to pay for his bail.
This follows the arrest of 16 other men, including alleged gang boss Jerome “Donkie” Booysen, businessman Mark Lifman and alleged 27s gang boss William “Red” Stevens for Wainstein’s murder.
The trio were nabbed in January and released on R100 000 bail each.
But a week before they returned to court, Red was shot and killed outside his home in Kraaifontein.
The Hawks then arrested 13 more suspects including former Anti-Gang Unit officer Sergeant Wayne Henderson, who is accused of tampering with evidence relating to Wainstein’s murder.
During an earlier court appearance, the state claimed that Lifman was part of a plot to kill Modack, Donkie’s brother Colin and various others.
According to Cupido’s charge sheet, he is accused of meeting with Lifman on 19 November 2017 in Fresnaye where the duo allegedly conspired to commit these murders.
Cupido is also accused of being behind the plot to kill Modack, Colin and Waseem Chaudhry at Cafe Caprice in Camps Bay in April 2017.
During this shooting, two people sustained gunshot wounds when gunmen stormed into the larney restaurant and started shooting indiscriminately.
In his bail application, which was not opposed by the state, Cupido told the magistrate that his parents were pensioners and could only pay R1000 for bail.
However, the magistrate ruled that bail be set at R5000 and the accused has to report to Sea Point Police Station each day.
The case was postponed to 12 May when the entire group is set to receive their indictment.
monique.duval@inl.co.za