Waste: court hears of 'hit' plans
2010-02-09 19:40
Welkom - The Welkom Magistrate's Court on Tuesday heard evidence of a planned assassination and kidnapping during the bail application of local businessman Gavin Brasher, who is being investigated for medical waste dumping.
Police investigator Inspector Izak Fick testified that information was followed up in December 2009 of an alleged planned kidnapping of a family member of one of Brasher's business partners, suspected of telling authorities of the dumped medical waste.
Brasher was arrested by the Green Scorpions and police on Monday after apparent threats and acts of intimidation against State witnesses.
The alleged kidnapping, based on information supplied by a police informant, was later changed to a planned assassination of the business partner himself, Kevin Rabie.
Fick testified that Rabie, who was informed about the plans, confronted Brasher about the allegations against the advice of police.
The court also heard that a former employee of Maximus Bricks, where medical waste was found buried, phoned investigators and complained that he felt intimidated by Brasher and some of his business associates.
Fick testified that Christiaan van Loggerenberg made a statement that Brasher and some of his business associates had visited his workplace.
The court heard that Van Loggerenberg felt intimidated by these visits and phone calls he received and he was scared he might lose his job.
During cross-examination, Brasher's legal counsel, Hannes Peyper, told Fick that Rabie confronted Brasher because he did not believe the assassination story.
Intimidation a 'story'
Peyper also submitted the "information" received through the police informant could have been planted by people who owed money to Brasher and Rabie.
"Rabie took it (the alleged assassination attempt) lightly and until now you have also taken no steps except telling the informants to listen for further information."
Fick said the information about the assassination became obsolete after Rabie confronted Brasher with the "die hele sak patats (whole bag of allegations)".
"Die informant het vir u 'n klomp nonsens vertel (The informant told you a lot of nonsense)," Peyper told Fick.
"It might be", Fick acknowledged, but added later that as an investigator in the case he had to take information seriously.
Peyper submitted to court that the informant's information was "wilful" and "unnecessary" to refuse bail to Brasher.
The defence counsel also told the court that Brasher would deny allegations that he ever told Van Loggerenberg to be "careful" where he walked.
Late last year, a huge amount of medical waste was found illegally dumped at several places around Welkom including at Maximus Bricks owned by Brasher.
Brasher faces various charges under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, including offences related to the illegal disposal of waste.
- SAPA