/ 11 September 2007

Case against Kebble’s security chief postponed

The fraud case against Brett Kebble’s former security chief, Clinton Nassif, was again postponed for further investigation at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) advocate Andrea Kasiram requested that the case be postponed to November 19 and for Nassif’s R300 000 bail to be extended.

Kasiram said the state had traced a witness in the case and was in the process of gathering evidence.

Nassif’s defence Marius du Toit did not object to the postponement.

Magistrate Thifhelimbilu Mudua postponed the case to November 19.

Nassif, a tall, imposing man, appeared in the dock dressed in a navy blue suit. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back for the duration of his brief appearance in Court Eight.

He was arrested last October by the Scorpions who were probing contraband networks around slain mining magnate Brett Kebble — who was shot dead in 2005.

Nassif was granted the bail of R300 000 on October 27 2006.

The fraud charge against him relates to his alleged forwarding of a false insurance claim for a damaged vehicle. NPA advocate Gerry Nel said the value was R900 000.

However, it was understood that the arrest flowed from a wider Scorpions’ probe into smuggling syndicates involving the investigation of both Nassif and the man accused of Kebble’s murder, Glen Agliotti.

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

He had reportedly sold all his assets and was planning to leave the country before his arrest. – Sapa