- Alleged underworld boss Nafiz Modack has appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court along with his co-accused.
- Modack and others are facing multiple charges relating to a gun licence fraud scheme.
- The matter was postponed because the State is awaiting authorisation to add racketeering to the charge sheet.
The Kempton Park Magistrate's Court was heavily guarded by dozens of law enforcement officials, including many who were armed with assault rifles, when alleged underworld boss Nafiz Modack appeared on charges relating to a gun licence fraud scheme.
The road adjacent to the court and the police station were closed off as members of the police's Tactical Response Team, Anti-drug Unit, Public Order Police unit and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department patrolled the streets and court corridors.
The case against Modack and his co-accused, which include several high-ranking police officers and other alleged underworld figures and gun dealers, was postponed to 6 August as the State awaits authorisation from the National Director of Public Prosecutions to add racketeering to the charge sheet.
News24 previously reported that Modack and his co-accused faced charges of fraud, defeating the administration of justice and the contravention of the Firearms Control Act in case dockets in Edenvale, Kempton Park and Norwood in Gauteng.
The charges emanate from an alleged gun licence fraud scheme in which several people allegedly obtained gun licences unlawfully.
National police spokesperson, Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, previously said there was a three-year intensive and extensive investigation into alleged wheeling and dealing parts of the Central Firearm Registry (CFR).
According to police, in 2017, information was received about the alleged fraud and corruption relating to firearm licence applications between Cape Town and Gauteng.
"In January 2018, it was found that several people, including Cape Town underworld figures and their family members and friends, allegedly obtained their competency certificates and firearm licences to possess a firearm, as well as temporary authorisation to possess a firearm, in an allegedly wrongful manner," Naidoo said.
Investigations are said to have revealed that these applications were made at police stations in Gauteng, specifically in the Edenvale, Norwood and Kempton Park.
"These investigations initially began when a few persons of interest appeared to possess firearms 'legally'."
"The investigations started to reveal, among others, that residential addresses were falsified or misrepresented on the applications, information regarding the status of applicants were not revealed and mandatory checks by police Designated Firearm Officers (DFOs) were not conducted."
It was found that application forms were unsigned by applicants and motivations supplied by the applicants as well as testimonials from character witnesses, News24 reported.
These applications were then eventually approved at the Central Firearm Registry.
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