Alleged underworld kingpin Nafiz Modack has finally been allocated a lawyer after weeks of delays at the Western Cape High Court.
Modack along with 14 other co-accused returned to the dock on Monday, where they stand accused of killing Anti-Gang Unit detective, Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear.
Court proceedings were hamstrung when Legal Aid South Africa refused Modack’s demand that they assign him a lawyer of his choice.
Legal Aid rejected this and Modack subsequently appealed the finding.
During proceedings, Advocate Bash Sibda confirmed he will be representing Modack for the trial.
Sibda was thrust into the limelight nearly six years ago when he defended convicted serial killer, Cameron Wilson.
Sibda was also on the legal team who defended alleged tik dealer, Nazier Kapdi, in 2008, who was acquitted of all charges.
Sibda, who is currently defending alleged child killer, Derick Kalmeyer, is one of only a few defence lawyers who recently won a murder case in the High Court when he managed to get Jeremy Sias acquitted of the murder of showjumper Meghan Cremer last November.
During proceedings, Judge Robert Henney, ordered that Modack be in court each day this week to consult with his new lawyer as he wants the trial to proceed next Monday.
Modack’s younger brother, Yaseen, received a tongue lashing from Henney after it was revealed that he still has not told his lawyers if he could pay them before the trial starts, with the judge warning that he will be forced to represent himself.
Henney said: “You will plea on your own. If you cannot afford it, you could have applied for Legal Aid. You are outside [on bail] and you’ve had more than enough time.”
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