Modack denies paying disbarred attorney to provide legal services to self-confessed hitman

Alleged underworld gang boss, Nafiz Modack, on Monday denied paying a disbarred attorney to provide legal services to a self-confessed hitman.

Modack is being cross-examined for his alleged involvement in the attempted murder of attorney William Booth five years ago. The incident forms part of the 122 charges Modack and his 14 co-accused face in the Western Cape High Court.

READ: State uses cellphone evidence, witness testimonies to implicate Modack as mastermind behind attempted murder on Booth

State prosecutor Greg Wolmarans continued questioning Nafiz Modack on Monday about allegedly orchestrating a hit on attorney William Booth in April 2020.

Wolmarans referred Modack back to the evidence of self-confessed hitman, referred to as "Mister A", who last year told the court he worked for Modack as a gunman.

"Mister A" told the court that co-accused Ziyaad oole paid him to perform at least four murders in 2019 - including a hit on Booth - allegedly on behalf of Modack. However, his attempts to murder Booth were halted in December 2019 when he was arrested for possession of an illegal firearm.

Modack denied paying former attorney Gary Newmark, who was disbarred in 2012, to provide legal services to "Mister A" after his arrest.

The prosecutor pressed Modack on the evidence presented to the court:

"Mister A said he did not pay an absolute [amount] to Mr Newmark because Mister A believed you covered that bill, and in fact, that was Mr Newmark's evidence as well. Is that so?"

Modack responded: "That's false, my lord."

Modack will be back in the witness box on Tuesday for his cross-examination to continue.