A Kuils River taxi boss accused of using his business as a front for a drug syndicate has been released on bail after spending Christmas behind bars
Rudi Lakay, of R. Lakay Passenger Services Trading, 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 Llewellyn Bostander were nabbed by cops late last year and slapped with 166 charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).
On 6 February cops also arrested and charged Orin Davids.
Advocate Bruce Hendricks, of Henricks-Harmse Attorneys, says they returned to Blue Downs Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where Lakay, Collins and Green were granted R50 000 bail each.
“The remainder all received R15 000 bail except for Dylon, Davids and Rhode who did not make bail applications,” the lawyer says.
“Their conditions are that they must remain in the Western Cape, report to Kuils River Police Station three times a week and Rudi must hand over his passport.”
After their arrest in November, police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, said a multi-disciplinary task team executed a “takedown” operation where the men, aged between 25 and 36, were nabbed at Victoria and La Paloma Flats in Kuils River.
He explained the Transportation Board, SARS and the Asset Forfeiture Unit form part of the investigation, and headed by a dedicated prosecutor from the National Prosecuting Authority.
Cop sources say Lakay uses the taxi business to launder money into his account.
Investigation revealed he has not submitted a tax return since 2012.
The case was postponed to 7 June for further investigations.