Cape Town - Chaos erupted in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday as an alleged gang leader and affiliate of Nafiz Modack attacked one of his henchmen in the dock.
The drama unfolded shortly before new evidence regarding the assassination attempt of attorney William Booth was introduced, when one of the accused was allegedly outed for ratting-out alleged gang boss, Moegamat Toufiek Brown.
During the trial, Brown was outed by another State witness as the leader of the Terrible West Siders gang, and during proceedings on Tuesday, the State entered a plea statement submitted by Brown’s co-accused and alleged henchman, Riyaat Gesant, into evidence.
Gesant, who has already been sentenced for the attempted hit on Booth several years ago, was convicted alongside Ebrahim Deare and Brown’s wife, Kauthar.
The trio were charged with aiding and abetting the activities of a gang, conspiracy to commit murder and the attempted murder of the attorney.
Deare was also charged with the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. Kauthar’s sentence was suspended for five years.
She was also sentenced to three years correctional supervision for the attempted murder, while Deare was handed a 10-year sentence and Gesant a five year sentence.
Deare was set to be the hitman, while Kauthar provided the getaway vehicle for a State witness who was instructed to drop Deare and Gesant close to Booth’s home.
Judge Robert Henney adjourned the court for the new State witness, who is testifying via an online meeting, but within seconds of leaving the court room, Brown was seen hitting Gesant with a fist in the face as tempers flared in the dock.
Another co-accused, Mario Pietersen, tried to quell the assault while Modack and Zane Kilian jumped out of the way.
As cops descended on the dock to usher Gesant away, an adamant Brown was seen hitting Pietersen over the head. Brown was also seen throwing his watch at his wife in the gallery.
Judge Henney addressed the accused and warned that if violent clashes continued, he would ensure that those who participated in the fights were shackled for the trial.
He also warned that the fight could be questioned by the State, who may question Brown’s behaviour after the plea statement was read. Brown’s lawyer, Nazeer Parkar, told the court that his client had apologised.
The trial continues.