Gang suspects behind bars for Christmas

THE festive hopes of a group allegedly linked to the deadly turf war over Cape Town’s nightclub security were dashed after a court turned down their bail applications yesterday.

Nafiz Modack‚ Colin Booysen‚ Jacques Cronje‚ Ashley Fields‚ James de Jager‚ Mathys Visser and Carl Lakay were arrested on extortion charges on Friday.

It is alleged the men are underworld figures involved in a bid to take over the city’s nightclub security.

Booysen is the brother of alleged gang boss Jerome Booysen, who was in the spotlight recently after he survived a hail of bullets in an attack at the Cape Town International Airport.

The prosecution asked for seven days to profile the men and this was granted.

The men appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court under heavy police guard.

Major-General Jeremy Vearey‚ a top police officer in the province‚ said the timing of the arrest was‚ in part‚ to ensure a safe festive season in Cape Town.

“We have received several complaints from the community policing forum‚ from various business people and the community about some related matters‚” he said.

“Rest assured that people will be able to enjoy themselves without having to look over their shoulder [for fear that] a bullet might be fired into a club or a fight might break out for some reason.”