The State’s case against suspected drug kingpin Fadwaan Vet Murphy seems to be collapsing.
The Daily Voice can reveal that one of the accused in the mammoth case against Murphy and four co- accused has been set free.
Murphy’s alleged henchman Leon Paulsen was acquitted last week after his defence team brought a Section 174, which is known as a discharge.
In 2018, it was found that cops did not have a legal warrant to search a property where a drug distribution lab was found.
Paulsen spent a month behind bars after he was busted at one of Murphy’s two homes in Turksvy Street, Lentegeur, and found in possession of R338 000 cash on 23 December 2014.
Murphy’s lawyer, Jan van der Berg, had previously claimed the search was possibly conducted without a warrant.
“If one has a warrantless search, it will affect what was found, the roleplayers, who were arrested and would affect the indictment and Mr. Murphy and his business, Ulterior Trading CC,” Van der Berg said.
Murphy, his ex-wife Shafieka Murphy, as well as business partner Dominic Davidson, Paulsen and Desmond Jacobs faced 229 charges relating to money laundering, dealing in drugs and racketeering, after cops raided a drug factory in Lotus River allegedly belonging to him.
Murphy and the remaining accused are set to learn on 19 November if the State will also set them free on the same charges as Paulsen.
Murphy’s sister Glenda Bird, who was also a co-accused, died of cancer last December.
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesman Eric Ntabazalila confirmed: “The state argued Section 174 and the matter has been postponed to November 19 for judgement.”