Retired top cop, Major General Jeremy Vearey, has firmly denied allegations that he received over R3 million in bribes from Nafiz Modack, an alleged underworld gang boss.
The accusations have surfaced as part of a high-profile case in which Modack and 14 co-accused face a staggering 122 charges, including the murder of Vearey’s colleague, Lieutenant Charl Kinnear.
Modack’s legal battles have drawn significant attention due to his suspected ties to organized crime in South Africa, and the case has implications for the country’s efforts to root out corruption and hold criminal syndicates accountable.
The charges include counts of corruption, racketeering, and conspiracy to commit murder, with a particular focus on the assassination of Lieutenant Kinnear, who was a key investigator in Modack’s criminal dealings.
Jeremy Vearey denies receiving R3 million bribe from Nafiz Modack
In court on Tuesday, Vearey’s testimony focused on 25 counts of corruption that Modack faces, with the bribery allegations involving both Vearey and the late Kinnear. According to Modack’s claims, in 2018, he paid Vearey and Kinnear a sum of R3 million through a middleman, Mohammed Hanware.
The bribe was allegedly paid in exchange for the return of six firearms that had been confiscated from Modack’s home during a police raid in 2017.
Modack alleged that the payments were made through Hanware, who was supposed to act as the conduit for the funds, with Hanware’s wife, Advocate Caitlyn Bowen, also implicated in receiving the money. However, financial records presented in court did not support Modack’s claims.
The records showed that while payments were indeed made to Hanware’s wife, there was no evidence that either Vearey or Kinnear received any money.
During his testimony, Vearey emphasized that he took immediate action upon learning of Modack’s bribery allegations. In 2018, after being informed of the claims, Vearey said he reported the matter to senior police officers and instructed them to investigate the accusations thoroughly.
Vearey further explained that he had laid a formal charge of bribery against Modack in an effort to clear his name and ensure the truth came to light.
The courtroom proceedings have highlighted the tension between law enforcement officials and criminal figures like Modack, who are believed to wield significant influence in the criminal underworld. For Vearey, the allegations against him have not only cast a shadow over his long career but have also raised questions about the broader issue of corruption within the police force.
Vearey, a well-respected figure in South Africa’s police community, is known for his involvement in combating organized crime, and his testimony is seen as crucial in dismantling the bribery accusations leveled by Modack.
Throughout the trial, Vearey has maintained his innocence, asserting that neither he nor Kinnear had any involvement in the alleged bribery scheme. Instead, he described Modack’s claims as an attempt to deflect attention from his own criminal activities and to undermine the credibility of the police investigators who were closing in on him.
The charges against Modack and his co-accused are part of a much larger investigation into criminal syndicates operating within South Africa. The ongoing trial is expected to shed light on the intricate web of corruption, organized crime, and violence that has plagued the country’s security landscape for years.
Modack, who has been linked to various criminal enterprises, continues to be at the center of these investigations.
As the trial progresses, further details are expected to emerge, not only about the alleged bribery but also about Modack’s wider criminal activities and his role in the assassination of Lieutenant Kinnear.
For now, Vearey’s testimony serves as a key element in the state’s efforts to refute Modack’s allegations and to hold those responsible for Kinnear’s murder accountable.
The trial continues, with more testimony and evidence set to be presented in the coming weeks, as the court works to unravel the complex case involving Modack and his co-accused.
