Surat man killed by friends in SA over financial dispute

Surat: A 36-year-old man, a native of Rander area in the city, was allegedly murdered by his former business partners over a financial dispute in Johannesburg, one of the biggest cities of South Africa on Saturday. His family members in Rander are in a deep shock.
Shiraz Patel had gone to meet friends, his former business partners, in Johannesburg when one of them attacked him with a knife. Shiraz sustained multiple stab wounds, including one on neck that led severe blood loss. He was shifted to a hospital where he died during treatment. The incident was captured on a CCTV camera installed there.

Shiraz had some financial dispute with three persons, his family members here said. “Maaz Ismail Malik Lefty and Ayaz Babu, both belonging to Jambusar, and Ayaz Asali, who shifted from Jambusar to Surat, had some dispute with my brother. They called Shiraz saying they wanted to give him money that he had been demanding from them and killed him,” said Imran, brother of Shiraz. No other information was available about the accused.

Shiraz’s last rites were performed after postmortem by his family members. Shiraz’s elder brother Sarfaraz lives in South Africa.

Meanwhile, Ayaz Babu, one of the accused, in a video has confessed to killing Shiraz over a financial dispute. Ayaz Babu said he attacked Shiraz after a heated argument over phone on the matter between them.

Shiraz had gone to South Africa around three and half years ago on visitor Visa. He later stayed there after getting work permit. He started cloth business in partnership with the accused and ended it when they suffered a loss. Shiraz was demanding money from the accused that he had invested in the business. At present, he was working in a garment shop.

Shiraz got married 10 years ago. His wife and two sons were to go to South Africa after two months. His family, originally from Saran village of Bharuch, has been living in the city for the past many years.