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Nassif reveals more of shady past

Johannesburg - Further revelations of the apparently shady life led by security boss Clinton Nassif emerged at the South Gauteng High Court on Wednesday.

During cross-examination at the trial of murder accused Glenn Agliotti, defence attorney Advocate Laurence Hodes SC - accused Nassif of hiding his assets - including a house he recently purchased in Mozambique.

Hodes entered a statement provided by Paul 'O Sullivan, former head of security at the OR Tambo International Airport - into evidence which detailed the inner workings of Nassif's business.

It told of a contact at the airport, Harry Larsen, who was "controlled by someone in the president's office".

Larsen apparently facilitated the "movement of people and things".

Flashy cars

He could get permits and ran a racket to smuggle "people and things into and out of South Africa".

Hodes quizzed Nassif on whether this person assisted him to bring his Porsche into the country which he bought in London. Nassif denied it.

His Hummer, bought in the United States, was registered in Botswana, he told Hodes when questioned about how he got a permit for this vehicle.

Hodes put it to Nassif that he also remained the owner of the Hummer despite it not being in his possession.

The statement, which details the testimony of an unnamed "casual source" who worked at Nassif’s security company, also said his (Nassif’s) attorney, Tammo Vink, burned documents.

"Tammo Vink had a bonfire last week. Burned everything, all the stuff that was mentioned in previous debriefed (sic), such as cellphone records, investigation files etc," it read.

Nassif denied this, saying he burned the material.

Shooting cover-up?

Hodes wanted to know if Nassif was protecting Vink, which he denied. On further questioning it emerged that Nassif was called to Vink’s home when his wife was shot.

Hodes put it to Nassif that he "covered up" the shooting by charging that Vink’s wife had shot herself. Hodes said Vink’s wife had also been beaten with a baseball bat and the butt of the gun.

Nassif replied: "She looked fine except for the gunshot wound."

He also told the court that she admitted to shooting herself, to which Hodes quipped: "It’s amazing what a beating with a baseball bat and a firearm.

"You knew Vink shot her… and you covered up… and you knew he did this while he was on drugs."

The cross-examination continues.
 

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