Kingpin: Cops harassing me
|Published
ANGRY: Rudi Lakay, 32, claims he is innnocent of all charges ANGRY: Rudi Lakay, 32, claims he is innnocent of all charges
A taxi boss alleged to be a kingpin in a drug cartel has made a case against cops, claiming he is being harassed by the Anti-Gang Unit (AGU).
Rudi Lakay, who owns R. Lakay Passenger Service Trading based in Kuils River, is currently out on R50 000 bail granted to him at the Western Cape High Court nearly four months ago.
The 32-year-old and his 13 co-accused face more than 100 charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
They were arrested in a take-down operation in November 2018 for drug trafficking, racketeering, paying traffic officers to scrap fines on his vehicles, murder and attempted murder.
Cops raided Lakay’s Kuils River flat along with six drug dens and arrested 10 men who allegedly worked for him, transporting drugs across Kuils River and Kalkfontein.
Lakay was caught after he apparently paid more than R1 million in cash for a house.
TARGETED: Cops have been raiding Lakay’s vehicles and his offices
Speaking to the media for the first time, Lakay denies any involvement in criminal activities and proof of this is that he was granted bail.
And he says the murder charges are the worst.
“From what I am told, some of these charges which include murder and attempted murder charges are being investigated for three years already. If there was any proof, no judge would have granted me bail,” Lakay says.
He alleges that last Sunday, AGU members kidnapped, attacked and assaulted his taxi gaatjie and tried to force him to reveal Lakay’s whereabouts
He alleges cops also chased one of his other drivers.
“They took the conductor (gaatjie) to my office where the keys are stored and one officer opened the door and actually went inside with no warrant. They are harassing my staff who are not in court for these allegations and that is not on,” he says.
“I immediately went to the police station and we opened a case of intimidation and harassment. I also had to replace a key to one of my vans which costs nearly R10 000 to do at a Toyota dealer
“The police are trying to get me to react. They want me to respond or to swear or be rude or disrespectful to them because they want to put me in jail. I am not going to have it.”
Provincial police are yet to respond to queries regarding the alleged charges.
Lakay along with Ike Collins, Christian Green, Jonathan Hermanus, Dwaine Rhode, Quinton Booysen, Almeiro Isaks, Mario de Wee, Eben George, Dylon Lakay, Leon Erasmus, Mark de Wee, Shamier Khan and Llewelleyn Bostander are back in Blue Downs court on 7 June.