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Nassif's dealings laid bare

Johannesburg - Brett Kebble's former security boss Clinton Nassif drove cars with no number plates to avoid speeding fines, didn't declare income and helped his lawyer cover up the shooting of his wife, the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg heard on Wednesday.

Defence Advocate Laurence Hodes SC, representing Kebble murder accused Glenn Agliotti, questioned Nassif about his finances, his friendships and his conduct after the mining magnate's murder, in an attempt to expose him as an unreliable witness.

It was his fifth day of cross examination.

Nassif conceded to the court he did not declare his income from Kebble to the taxman.

He previously testified that he made millions from his "paymaster" Kebble.

No number plates

Hodes read out a list of 13 cars. Nassif confirmed he had driven 11 of them during his time at the helm of the Central National Security Group.

They were the three Porsches, a Range Rover Super Charge, a Lamborghini, a BMW M5, a BMW X5, a Mercedes SL65, a Mercedes E55 and two Hummers.

He denied owning a BMW M3 and a Mercedes SL63.

He could not recall whose name these cars were registered in. It was “more than likely” that many of them did not have number plates, he said.

Hodes asked Nassif which car he listed as his personal vehicle when filling out his tax return.

The witness replied: “I never kept cars for long.”

He explained they had no number plates so he could avoid speeding fines.

Smuggling racket

Hodes entered into evidence a statement provided by Paul O'Sullivan, former head of security at the OR Tambo International Airport – 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".

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

Hodes quizzed Nassif on whether Larsen helped him bring his Porsche into the country after buying it in London.

Nassif denied this.

Cover up

According to the statement, which details testimony of an unnamed "casual source" who worked at Nassif's security company, Nassif's attorney Tammo Vink burned documents.

“Tammo Vink had a bonfire last week. Burned everything... such as cellphone records, investigation files etc," it read.

Nassif denied this, saying he burned the material.

Hodes wanted to know if he was protecting Vink, which he denied. On further questioning it emerged Nassif was called to Vink's home when the latter's wife was shot and wounded.

Hodes put it to Nassif that he "covered up" the shooting by claiming Vink's wife had shot herself. Hodes said she 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 told the court she admitted to shooting herself, to which Hodes quipped: "It's amazing what a beating with a baseball bat and a firearm would do.

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

'I don't recall'

Nassif appeared calmer than on previous days, but his responses to questions put to him were largely “I don't recall” or “no comment”.

He is the state's sixth witness.

Boxer and self-confessed Kebble hitman Michael Schultz was the first to testify, followed by fund manager Allan Gray employee Stephen Mildenhall, Nigel McGurk, Faizel Smith and restaurant owner Alexis Christoper.

Agliotti is on trial for conspiring to kill Kebble.

He is also accused of attempting to kill Mildenhall and of the Kebble murder.

On Wednesday he sought to lift the house arrest he was currently under as part of his bail conditions. Judge Frans Kgomo was expected to rule on the request on Thursday.

Earlier this year Agliotti’s bail was reduced from R350 000 to R200 000 on condition he used the R150 000 towards his legal fees.

His bail conditions were also relaxed, allowing him to travel abroad.

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