Nafiz Modack sentenced to seven years for police bribery
Alleged kingpin Nafiz Modack has been sentenced for police bribery.
Image: File
Alleged underworld boss Nafiz Modack has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment, following his conviction for bribing a police brigadier.
The 44-year-old was found guilty of paying R146 000 to Brigadier Kolindren Govender in exchange for special treatment.
Modack was sentenced in the Cape Town regional court on Friday, but still faces a R46 million tax evasion case and is on trial for the murder of Anti-Gang Unit detective Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear.
According to prosecutors, the investigation led by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation Unit unveiled a scheme in which Modack colluded with former senior police officer Brigadier Kolindren Govender.
The duo's unlawful dealings resulted in the protection of Modack’s assets, among other favours.
Specifically, Govender intervened to prevent the seizure of Modack's Mercedes-Benz, a vehicle central to ongoing investigations into his alleged illegal activities.
In a statement from the Hawks read: “The Cape Town Regional Court sentenced Nafiz Modack , 44, to ten years imprisonment for corruption of which three years is suspended for a period of five years.
Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear.
Image: Supplied
“The accused will effectively serve seven years direct imprisonment. The court ordered that the accused be declared unfit to possess a firearm.”
Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi confirmed: “Modack acted with common purpose by paying gratification totalling R146 000 to Govender in return for special treatment.”
The ramifications of Govender's actions prevented a police officer from SAPS Paarl’s vehicle identification section from cooperating with the investigative team at Cape Town Central SAPS, thereby impeding the flow of justice.
Acting Provincial Head of the Hawks, Brigadier Mushavhaduvha Ramovha lauded the investigation and prosecution teams for their perseverance in ensuring that justice is served.
The Kinnear murder trial was placed on hold in March and Modack and his co-accused are set to return for the trial on 6 October.
The group face over 100 charges, which range from murder to money laundering in the mammoth underworld case centred on the murder of Kinnear who was gunned down outside his Bishop Lavis home in September 2020.
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