The wife of a cop accused of accepting bribes from alleged underworld kingpin Nafiz Modack to leak information on the operations of the Anti-Gang Unit says he is being framed by corrupt cops.
Rene Tabisher, 36, claims her husband Sergeant Ashley Tabisher is being set up by senior SAPS officers and she fears for her life.
According to the charge sheet, the 39-year-old AGU officer allegedly accepted R10 000 and a cellphone worth R3500 from Amaal Jantjies to share information on when Modack’s homes would be raided by the AGU.
Modack, Jantjies and her boyfriend Jannick Adonis have been charged with a failed grenade attack on the home of slain AGU chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear.
It is the state’s case that Jantjies corrupted Tabisher when he worked with the police escort to transport Adonis from prison to court, where he faces several charges.
Rene says during this time her husband told her that a man named Jannick was working with them to provide information about the location of guns, allegedly in exchange for favours from the AGU.
“My husband was instructed by senior cops (to play along) after this Jannick guy said he can tell them where to find guns and, in exchange, they were supposed to help him get moved to a different section of the prison.
“He told me that while they got guns, AGU never gave him (Jannick) anything back.”
Rene Tabisher says her husband is being set up. Video: Monique Duval
She says two weeks ago, the family was left shocked and confused when armed officers stormed their Elsies River home after blocking off all the surrounding streets.
She says the Hawks confiscated personal belongings and took her husband to Bellville Police Station.
“There were just rifles everywhere. It was SAPS and the Hawks. I kept asking what he was being arrested for, only later in the day Captain Andy told me it was for corruption.
“My husband is not corrupt and was basically thrown under the bus. He has been doing his job.
“He got permission to do what he did. He never took money. There is a claim by Amaal that he needed R5000 for my daughter’s leg, why would he do that if we have medical aid?”
Rene claims high-ranking cops are framing her husband who, she says, doesn’t even know Modack: “People are sitting higher up watching this play out and they know the truth, but sit smiling in court.”
She declined to name the officers, saying she feared for her life.
The Daily Voice approached AGU head, Major-General Andre Lincoln, for comment but he declined.
In an SMS he said: “This matter is before court and I am not going to comment.”
Rene says on Friday she was left further dismayed when her husband was charged with being involved with the plot to kill Kinnear.
“Ashley loved Kinnear. They were friends. Why would he plot for a R10 000 to kill his own colleague? He was devastated [when Kinnear was killed],” she said.
FEAR: Rene Tabisher, 36 says her husband is being framed. Video: Monique Duval