A bitter feud between a Pakistani and an Indian national, which was apparently triggered in some underhand business deal turning sour, has led to serious injuries being sustained and police charges being opened.
Mahomed Rafik Delaweli, an Indian national of Pearl Street, Laudium, who has been living in the area for several years, explained to the Laudium Sun of his ordeal with the Pakistani national that led to a bitter relationship. “About three weeks ago, Mehboob Babar of Pakistan, whom I met in Laudium and have known for many years, came to me and told me that he wanted me to work with Mustak Gagaria who lives in Lenasia. I refused to work with him or for Mehboob, as I did not trust either of them. Mehboob then told me to sit in his car and drove off very fast, like he wanted to kidnap me. He hit me in the shoulder, but luckily I managed to get out the car when his friend on Emerald Street stopped him, as he wanted to talk to him. I ran away and went to the police to report an attempted kidnapping and that Mehboob was dealing in illegal businesses. But, when I got to the police station, Mehboob was already there and gave them a story that I stole R50 000 from him and then he left. I asked the police why did he not open a case. I then decided not to open a case and left. Later Mehboob came to me and threatened me and told me that if I opened a case, I would die”. Rafik continued, “On Saturday (August 21) it was a chilled day, so at around 2pm, I decided to go and fix my hair. When I got to Star Hair Dresser, on Emerald Street, I asked them to cut my hair and dye it also. But whilst they were busy with my hair, Mehboob, who is married to a South African lady, came into the salon and asked me why I went to his in-laws family and told them about his illegal dealings in business. I told him I did it because it was the truth. He then pushed me. I stood up and pushed him too. We started fighting and then he hit me in the face with a sharp item. I was bleeding and he also hit me on my head. Luckily the workers at Star Hair Dresser stopped him, as he was going to kill me, the way he was fighting. I realized that I can’t be scared of him forever, or I would die. So I decided that this time I would open a case against him. I went to the police station to open the case, but they said I must go to hospital first, as I was bleeding very badly. I went to the Laudium Hospital and waited there for almost an hour. There was no doctor to stich my wound. I then left and went around Laudium looking for a private doctor. Eventually l found one at around 5:00 in the afternoon, a Dr Ismail who attended to my wound. I went back to the police station to open the case, but it was late as friend informed me that Mehboob had already flown out of the country, back to the United Kingdom (UK), the same day, with his family. I believe that Mehboob is a crook and doing illegal things. He opens bank accounts with fake ID’s and fake pay slips, then buys cellphones with instalments, but does not pay the instalments. Many Indian people from India had to leave the country because he got them into trouble by getting them South African ID’s, promising them citizenship, but instead gets loans from the bank or buys goods on credit in their names without them knowing. I want the police to follow up on him and arrest him immediately, once he comes back to South Africa. I also want the police to protect me as my life is not safe now. He threatened me that if he does not kill me, which means he is the son of two fathers. If something happens to me, it will be Mehboob and his friends that would be responsible.
Cousin-in-law of Mehboob Babar, the managing director of Handy Garments, Nabeel Gani, said, “I do not know anything about illegal activities and I was not informed about the incident of Saturday. I know Babar and he has immigrated to the UK with his family.”
Sergeant Simon Chokoe, of the Laudium SAPS, said, “A case of fraud and GBV has been opened. The police are following leads. No arrests have been made as yet.”
