Alleged underworld kingpin Nafiz Modack has denied being duped by a State witness, claiming he set up his former friend. mottled He was handed over to the police on the grounds that he had illegal access to firearms.

This came amid Mohamed Hanware’s testimony in the Western Cape High Court against Modack and 14 others, focusing on the murder of slain Anti-Gang Unit detective Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear.

Hanware, who testified remotely from the Middle East, caused chaos by dropping many bombs this week.

Hanware was first named in this year’s massive underworld trial after Modack gave a police statement in which he claimed he gave Hanware over R500,000 to bribe top cops such as former Major General Jeremy Vearey.

Vearey vehemently denied being on Modack’s payroll.

Hanware claimed that while under Modack’s management, he spent R1.32 million to help Modack’s family and employees. kwaad When he couldn’t get his money back, he came up with a plan to defraud his old friend.

He claimed he misled Modack into believing he had contacted Vearey and could get Modack’s firearms back, but then pocketed the bribe money himself.

Another discussion was a recorded conversation that Modack claimed was held between Hanware and Vearey to discuss bribes. But Hanware ran into trouble in court when he claimed it was his gardener and not Vearey.

But during cross-examination, defense attorney Attorney Bash Sibda brought up a 2019 News 24 article in which Hanware said he spoke to a journalist about that phone call, but the conversation was between him and a customer.

Hanware was forced to admit that his testimony in court did not match his media interview.

Hanware also became agitated when a photo of him holding a firearm, published in the Daily Voice, was shown in court.

After being warned by Judge Robert Henney about charging him, he claimed it was a fake gun used to fool Modack.

But Sibda told the court that Modack agreed to take the photo and sent it to police after Hanware claimed the gun was fired at him by police officers.

Sibda also told Hanware that his reasons for fleeing to the Middle East had nothing to do with Modack and showed the court a photo of Hanware and Modack posing with Glen Agliotti.

Aggliotti, a convicted drug lord, died in hospital in June last year.

Henney questioned the picture’s relevance and warned of possible new information that might emerge.

As laughter rose in the courtroom, the judge said, “Do not touch the snake, it may bite you.”