All charges against alleged underworld kingpins Nafiz Modack, Colin Booysen and their co-accused Ashley Fields and Jacques Cronje were dropped on Thursday in the Cape Town Regional Court.
The four were charged with money laundering and extortion, linked to a violent takeover of the local nightclub security industry.
The case has been on the court roll since December 2017.
The charges were dropped after their legal team brought forth a Section 174 application in terms of the Criminal Procedures Act.
PAID: Kingpin Nafiz Modack
Magistrate Byron Pedro gave judgement on the application saying it was granted after he said the evidence of the State falls below the threshold.
The group was accused of allegedly trying to extort R369 000 from The Grand Africa Cafe and Beach near the V&A Waterfront. That amount was later reduced to R90 000.
This after their Defence counsels brought forth a section 174 to have all the charges against the accused withdrawn @DailyVoiceSA
— Robin-Lee Francke (@robin_francke) February 20, 2020
Their lawyer Bruce Hendricks said he and his clients are happy with the outcome.
“We’re happy that this matter finally came to an end. It’s been a long haul, a long three years and I think justice prevailed at the end of the day,” he says.