Pretoria - A Durban businessman will appear in court on Friday to face charges of conspiracy to commit murder after the Hawks foiled his alleged assassination plan.
The man is accused of wanting his business partner killed so that he could be the sole beneficiary of a R34 million policy.
According to Hawks spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, the businessman is believed to have hired a man to assist him in finding a hitman who would assassinate his business partner.
The information was passed onto the police who then involved crime intelligence.
“An undercover cop approached the man and presented 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,” said Mulaudzi.
Mulaudzi said the Hawks then staged the murder of the target and within 30 minutes of the supposed murder, an amount of R10 000 was paid for the “job well done”.
“The man was then arrested and he led the Hawks to the house of his boss (the businessman). The businessman was found in possession of an unlicensed 9mm pistol.”
The two will appear before the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, possession of unlicensed firearm as well as possession of police equipment.
According to the police, this was not the first time the businessman tried to have his business partner killed.
In July, 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 incident.
The businessman is also believed to have sent three assailants to kill the victim’s father-in-law but the man managed to wrestle for firearm with attackers until they fled. – SAnews.gov.za
