Major-General Jeremy Vearey, a former high-ranking South African police officer, has firmly denied being the voice behind a recorded telephone conversation allegedly held with underworld figure Nafiz Modack. The call, which reportedly referenced financial dealings using coded language, has been the subject of scrutiny amid ongoing investigations into corruption claims involving Modack and various officials.
The case unfolded further on Monday as Vearey returned to the witness stand for cross-examination by Modack’s legal representative, Advocate Bash Sibda. This session brought into focus allegations that Vearey, along with the late Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear, a prominent detective from the Anti-Gang Unit, had illicit connections with Modack. Such claims surfaced following a statement Modack allegedly made nearly six years ago, accusing both officials of being under his influence. The statement, taken by Captain Alfred Barker, has become a focal point in examining these alleged corrupt associations.
According to the statement, Modack asserted that, shortly after his release on bail, he was approached by Mohamed Hanware, who suggested he could recover his firearms by paying police officers a sum of R150,000. Following this, a Hawks investigation traced a series of financial transfers linked to Hanware and his wife, Advocate Caitlin Bowen. Between 2018 and 2020, multiple transactions totaling R587,000 were reportedly transferred from Empire Car Investments to accounts connected to Bowen, with some transactions marked with terms like “Gen V.” The Hawks concluded that the money trail ended with the couple, suggesting a possible link to the alleged police payments.
During Monday’s session, Sibda introduced a three-minute audio clip into evidence, reportedly capturing a phone conversation between Hanware and an unidentified man who Modack claimed was Vearey. Throughout the conversation, the individuals allegedly used codewords such as “roses,” “biltong,” and “meat” to discuss firearms and financial matters. Modack reportedly recorded this call himself, creating a key piece of evidence for the defense.
In the recording, Hanware can be heard greeting the individual, saying,
“Howzit G. The deal that I am speaking about is on for tomorrow. But I will give you details when I leave later tonight… Tell me something, the roses [guns] for Nafiz?”
The other man, who the defense contends is Vearey, responds,
“I am doing a lot of work for that guy Nafiz but there is no meat [money] coming to the table.”
Vearey, however, categorically denied being the voice on the audio clip, asserting that he was not involved in the conversation captured in the recording. He further disclosed that he had previously encountered a more extensive version of the same audio clip during his tenure as the provincial head of detectives in the Western Cape. Vearey claimed that the original clip surfaced in an article by the Sunday Times, but the newspaper later issued an apology, with the editor personally visiting Vearey to offer a formal apology and admitting that the source of the information was Captain Barker.
The case continues to develop as legal teams on both sides navigate the complex web of alleged corruption, claims of influence, and questions surrounding the authenticity of evidence.
