Prosecutors are ready to transfer to the High Court the case against a Cape businessman accused of trading in illegal guns.
Irshaad Laher and his co-accused Alan Raves made a brief appearance at Bellville Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The pair is facing charges of corruption, money laundering, theft of firearms and ammunition as well as the possession of prohibited firearms and racketeering.
Laher is accused of buying 2 000 guns meant for destruction from former policeman, Colonel Christiaan Prinsloo, for R1 000 each and selling them to Cape gangsters at a marked up price of R4 500, raking in a profit of R9 million.
Prinsloo is already serving an 18-year prison term and is expected to testify against Laher
during the trial.
Yesterday prosecutors postponed the matter to next month so that a date can be arranged for the case to be transferred to the Western Cape High Court for trial.
In August, Laher lost an application at that same court to have over R4 million of his assets unfrozen.
The Asset and Forfeiture Unit made the seizure after learning just days after his release on bail, Laher sold off his shares in the Spur and Nando’s franchises he owned.
The 41-year-old is out on R100 000 bail following his arrest in June.
Laher and his co-accused are due back at Bellville Magistrates’ on November 2.