Modack denies instructing co-accused to track lawyer before murder attempt

CAPE TOWN - Alleged underworld gang boss, Nafiz Modack, has denied instructing one of his co-accused to track a prominent criminal defence attorney before an attempt was made on his life.

Modack and 14 others face 122 charges related to various crimes, including extortion, racketeering and murder.

Hawks investigator, Colonel Eddie Clark, was cross-examined in court on Tuesday.

Modack's lawyer, Bashier Sibda, questioned Clark about how he linked Modack to the attempted murder of Cape Town criminal defence lawyer, William Booth.

Booth narrowly escaped death after being shot at in the driveway of his Higgovale home in April 2020.

It's the State's case that Modack hired co-accused, Zane Kilian, to track the location of Booth, while Moegamat Brown, Ziyaad Poole and Ryaad Gesant plotted the hit on Booth.

Sibda told the court that Modack denied instructing Kilian to ping Booth, saying Kilian only worked for him as a debt collector.

He told the court that screenshots found on Kilian's phone of messages between himself and Modack were manufactured.

Sibda said that Kilian tried to create the impression that he did more work for Modack, but it was not so.