IN an incident reminiscent of a dramatic movie, a Durban businessman was arrested by the Hawks after masterminding the attempted murder of his colleague in order to claim a R34-million insurance policy from Discovery.
According to Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, Hawks spokesman, “The businessman hired a man to assist him in finding a hitman who would assassinate his business partner, Grant Williams from Kloof.”
The Hawks received the information and involved the Crime Intelligence Unit.
Mulaudzi said an undercover cop approached the man, presenting himself as the man for the job, and a deal was concluded. The undercover cop was provided with a vehicle, police blue light and a police communication radio.
“The Hawks then staged the ‘murder’ of the target, and within 30 minutes, an amount of R10 000 was paid for the ‘job well done’.
“Two middlemen were arrested and they led the Hawks to the house of their ‘boss’. The businessman was found in possession of an unlicensed 9mm pistol,” he said.
The three will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court today (29 October), facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm as well as possession of police equipment.
He added that it was not for the first time that the determined businessman tried to have his business partner killed.
“On July 2, the victim was followed by two men from a conference in Drummond to his residence, where he was shot several times in what looked like a failed hijacking.
“The victim survived the attack, and if that was not enough, the businessman again sent three assailants to kill the victim’s father-in-law, but the man managed to wrestle for the firearm with the attackers before they fled,” said Mulaudzi.
