Modack Denies ‘Mask’ Payments Were Linked To Illegal Pinging In Kinnear Murder Trial

The murder trial of alleged underworld figure Nafiz Modack intensified on Wednesday as prosecutors challenged him over a series of payments, SIM swaps and references to “masks” that the State believes were coded messages linked to illegal cellphone tracking.

Modack, however, maintained that the transactions had innocent explanations.

Testifying in the Western Cape High Court, Modack confirmed that between August and September 2020 he paid co-accused Zane Kilian R47 500 from his Empire account.

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This period coincides with the surveillance and eventual assassination of Anti-Gang Unit detective Lieutenant-Colonel Charl Kinnear.

According to the State, the payments were used to fund pinging activity allegedly central to the illegal tracking of targeted individuals. Modack denied this, saying the money was for debt collection, the towing of a vehicle and the purchase of masks.

State Probes Payments Linked to Tracking Activity

Judge Robert Henney reminded the court that Kilian had previously stated—through 220 admissions—that payment references such as “masks” were actually codes for pinging services. Modack dismissed this, insisting Kilian was lying.

Two additional payments were made to Kilian in September 2020, this time via an entity named Ricky Holdings. One payment, R20 000 on 2 September, was approved by Modack.

State Prosecutor Gregory Wolmarans pressed him, “When you say you are responsible for the R20 000 payment, you did indeed ask [co-accused Ricardo Morgan] to make the payment to Kilian?”

Modack told the court that Morgan owed him money for masks, and he instructed him to redirect the funds to Kilian. Wolmarans challenged this version, “You say Morgan owed you money for masks and in turn you owed Kilian R20 000.”

Modack again claimed the payment was for debt collection. Wolmarans questioned the convenience of the arrangement, saying, “Instead of you getting your money from Morgan and then pay Kilian, you took a shortcut and told Morgan ‘look just pay that Kilian guy’.

“And it just so happened that Morgan owed you R20 000 and you owed Kilian R20 000. It all worked out lovely.”

Modack repeated that the transaction had nothing to do with pinging.

Evidence Highlights Pattern in Pinging Before Kinnear’s Murder

The State further alleges that Kilian was in contact with the shooter during both the attacks involving prominent lawyer William Booth and the murder of Kinnear. Modack said only Kilian could answer to those allegations.

Judge Henney pointed out that Kilian’s pinging data shows excessive tracking activity on the day Kinnear was killed in September 2020. He noted, “The shooter must have known that at 14:44:49 [of the fateful day] Kinnear wasn’t at home.”

The trial resumes on Thursday.

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