Moegsien Haywood, the father of the notorious “Closet Killer”, Ziyaad Haywood, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Khayelitsha Priority Court.
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The 64-year-old pensioner was convicted on an array of charges, including the possession of a prohibited firearm, money laundering and gang-related offences under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.
It is alleged that he procured illegal firearms to help his son escape from police custody.
Ziyaad was a fugitive before his arrest in July 2018 when members of the Grassy Park police found him hiding in a closet in his parent’s home in Lotus River.
Moegsien was also apprehended at the time for harbouring his son, who was one of the 10 most wanted fugitives in the province.
The pensioner was again arrested, while out on bail, a few months later, when he tried to buy AK-47 rifles, hand grenades and explosives during a sting operation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).
Ziyaad faced 21 charges including murder, kidnapping and robbery and was subsequently sentenced to three life terms as part of a plea agreement.
“On 15 May 2019, information was received from a source that Haywood was looking to buy an AK47 assault rifle and hand grenades,” said spokesperson for the Hawks in the Western Cape, Zinzi Hani
“As a result of this information, an operation was initiated whereby a transaction was conducted between the suspect and the police.”
“During the operation, four suspects were arrested and five 9mm semi-automatic pistols were recovered from the suspects,” Hani said.
According to the spokesperson, two vehicles, valued at R180,000, along with the R17,000 used for the transaction, were also recovered.
“Haywood was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for each of the five counts of illegal possession of prohibited firearms and nine years’ imprisonment for money laundering of which five years on each count was suspended to five years.”
“The preservation and confiscation order was executed where all the above-mentioned seized items were forfeited to the State.”
“The court ordered that all counts run concurrently. The accused will serve an effective 14 years’ direct imprisonment.”
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Picture: Cape{town}Etc Library