/ 24 April 2007

Kebble security chief’s court case postponed

The fraud case against Brett Kebble’s former security chief, Clinton Nassif, was postponed in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

The prosecutor told the magistrate the state and the defence had agreed that the matter be postponed to September 11 for further investigation.

The state prosecutor refused to say what charges Nassif is facing. Nassif’s attorney also refused to say what charges have been laid against his client.

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lucinda Moonieya said Nassif is accused of forwarding a false insurance claim for a damaged vehicle. She could not say when this false claim was made or the amount claimed.

The tall Nassif, dressed in a black suit and wearing glasses, stood without showing emotion in the dock during his brief appearance in court number eight, where only two people were in the public gallery. He was later led out of the courtroom by his attorney and spent some time talking to his legal team in the corridor.

Nassif was arrested last October by a Scorpions team probing contraband networks around mining magnate Kebble, who was shot dead in 2005.

However, it was understood the arrest flowed from the wider Scorpions probe into smuggling syndicates involving the investigation of both Nassif and his friend Glenn Agliotti.

Agliotti is out on bail after being arrested in connection with Kebble’s death.

Nassif played a controversial role after the Kebble murder, allegedly ordering the premature removal from police custody of the car Kebble was driving when he was shot in September 2005.

Nassif, who subsequently sold all his assets, was reportedly planning to leave the country. Scorpions working on a case of insurance fraud again arrested him before he could leave.

Nassif’s company, Central National Security, provided guards for Kebble’s JCI group as well as a range of private intelligence services for the businessman.

Nassif is out on R300 000 bail with conditions. — Sapa