Carlo Petersen30 April 2024 | 4:49

Modack denies paying a criminal defence attorney to represent some of his co-accused

Criminal defence attorney, Gary Newmark, took the stand in the Western Cape High Court on Monday, where Modack and 14 others face more than 100 charges, including murder and attempted murder.

Modack denies paying a criminal defence attorney to represent some of his co-accused

Nafiz Modack in the Western Cape High Court on 29 January 2024. Picture: Carlo Petersen/Eyewitness News

CAPE TOWN - Alleged underworld gang boss, Nafiz Modack, has denied paying criminal defence attorney, Gary Newmark, to represent some of his co-accused for crimes they committed on his behalf. 
 
Newmark took the stand in the Western Cape High Court on Monday, where Modack and 14 others face more than 100 charges, including murder and attempted murder.

Newmark also told the court that he often represented the State's first witness, a self-confessed hitman who can only be identified as "Mister A".

Newmark told the court that Modack would call him with instructions about which courts and police stations he needed to visit and who to represent. 

He said that he also represented Jacques Cronje, along with three of the other co-accused in the matter. 

Newmark told the court that he reported directly to Modack and worked on a R15,000 a month retainer fee.

He said that he received payments via bank transactions and cash which would be delivered to him by Ziyaad Poole, another accused in the matter.

Modack admitted that Newmark reresented him for one other matter but both him and Poole deny paying Newmark for legal work involving any of the other co-accused. 
 
The trial continues on Tuesday.