Former eThekwini councillor testifies in alleged R1.5m property fraud trial

Ismail Cassimjee and his co-accused Thamothran Junior Raman have appeared in the Durban Regional Court charged with fraud and theft amounting to R1.5 million relating to an alleged property sale scam.

Former eThekwini councillor and Islamic leader Ismail Cassimjee has testified in the Durban Regional Court trial involving allegations that he and a co-accused defrauded prospective property buyers.

The state alleges that Cassimjee, 55, of Chatsworth, and his co-accused Thamothran Junior Raman, 61, of Bellair, allegedly ran a property sale scam.

They were in the dock for fraud cases registered in Chatsworth, Greenwood Park and Brighton Beach after being arrested by Chatsworth detectives in February 2022.

Cassimjee was previously denied bail by the Chatsworth Magistrate's Court and has since been awaiting trial at Westville prison.

Raman was found guilty of fraud in another case and was sentenced. Raman is also serving his sentence in Westville

Cassimjee is the director of Thaiybah Holdings property sales and rental. The State alleges that transactions took place between Thaiybah Holdings and Brackley Trading, allegedly managed by Raman.

According to the charge sheet, in December 2019, in Chatsworth, Cassimjee and Raman falsely claimed to Mohamed Abdool that the logbook for the sale and registration of a Nissan Almera purchased for R10,000 was valid.

Cassimjee allegedly told Abdool that he was the registered owner when he was not.

In other matters, the State says the pair defrauded Jerome Govender of R567,000 when they allegedly tried to sell him a property in Umhlatuzana, Chatsworth; defrauded Imam and Fathima Kader - Cassimjee's sister and brother-in-law - of R612,000 when they allegedly tried to sell them a house in Malvern; and defrauded Essop Kajee when they tried to sell him a property on Marine Drive for R1.1 million.

The State said none of the properties were for sale and neither did Cassimjee and Raman have authority to sell the properties.

Abdool died before he could testify in court, while Cassimjee’s sister and brother-in-law, Govender and Kajee have testified.

In court on Wednesday, Cassimjee took the stand to give his version of events. His counsel, advocate Russell Hand, instructed by attorney Kassim Suliman, cross-examined him.

Cassimjee told the court he believed that Raman had a contact at the Master's Office who knew about properties going on auction. He said he only took R15,000 from each deal as a facilitator's fee.