Laher loses court bid for assets

Irshaad Laher is being linked to the sale of thousands of firearms stolen by police colonel Christiaan Prinsloo. File picture: Tracey Adams

Irshaad Laher is being linked to the sale of thousands of firearms stolen by police colonel Christiaan Prinsloo. File picture: Tracey Adams

Published Aug 26, 2016

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Cape Town - Businessman Irshaad Hunter Laher, at the centre of an investigation into the alleged supply of guns to Cape gangs, has lost a bid to get back his assets, after the Western Cape High Court confirmed a provisional restraint order granted against him.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Judge Elizabeth Baartman said she was satisfied the Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) had made a good enough case.

She confirmed the restraint order which effectively freezes R9 million worth of Laher's assets, including his Rondebosch home, vehicles and interests he had in two Spur franchises and a Nando's outlet in Athlone.

Although his shares in the restaurants had already been transferred to third parties, the AFU suggested in papers that he was dissipating his assets - an allegation he denied.

He told the court he had no choice but to relinquish his interests in the restaurants as a result of the bad publicity.

Judge Baartman, however, did not take lightly to the manner in which the AFU conducted itself in the application and refused to grant a costs order in its favour.

Now that the order has been confirmed, the unit will apply for a confiscation order if Laher is convicted of the offences he has been charged with.

It is the State's case that a former Vereeniging police colonel, Christiaan Prinsloo, supplied Laher with 2 000 firearms between 2008 and 2014. The guns were allegedly sold to gangsters for R4 500 each.

Prinsloo, who was in charge of the Gauteng armoury where police firearms are sent for destruction, has been jailed for an effective 18 years after he pleaded guilty and implicated Laher.

Laher, however, denies any involvement in illegal gun dealing. He said the State made allegations against him which were not substantiated with any evidence.

In an affidavit before the court, Laher - a former De Deur police reservist - denied the allegations and said Prinsloo was "an acquaintance".

They had a mutual interest in firearms and sometimes socialised together. The two went hunting together and Prinsloo sometimes visited him in Cape Town and ate breakfast with him at his Spur restaurant in Ottery. They also went to Hout Bay to buy fish.

However, Laher said Prinsloo's claims should be treated with caution because he was "a self-confessed thief".

Cape Argus

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