Double murder accused Sars employee grilled over 'selective memory'

A CHATSWORTH Sars employee facing charges for the execution-style murders of his gardener and a barber faced intense questioning about his claimed 'memory loss' during his bail application.

Despite not remembering his arrest, Wasim Kudoos had previously stated he did not resist authorities.

The accused also made unusual claims about paid protesters outside the courthouse

Kudoos, 33, of Mobeni Height, gave evidence in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court during his bail application last week.

He has been charged for double murder.

He allegedly shot and killed his gardener, Mzikayise Paulos Mabida, 54, in the driveway of his Fiona Street, Mobeni Heights home, on October 8.

An hour earlier, he allegedly shot and killed barber Mahmudel Sajid, 38, at his salon in Summerfield Road in Bayview.

He was arrested shortly after Mabida’s shooting.

During cross examination, State prosecutor Thamandri Kengan-Narainsamy said Kudoos had stated under oath in court on his last appearance that he could not remember his arrest, and that on the same day, he had submitted an affidavit to say that he did not resist arrest.

“If you cannot remember your arrest, how do you depose to not resisting arrest?” Kengan-Narainsamy questioned.

In response, Kudoos said, “I remember being in a cell in the police station”.

Kengan-Narainsamy put it to Kudoos that the investigating officer, who is due to testify as a witness, would tell the court that he had resisted arrest, and that it was a struggle to arrest him.

He said he had no comments regarding that statement.

When asked about if he had access to social media in prison, he said he did not.

However, he said had seen one article in a copy of the POST newspaper, which belonged to an inmate at Westville Prison.

He said he had seen only one article about the allegations against him and the court proceedings. 

Kengan-Narainsamy then questioned Kudoos if he was aware of protest action which had taken place as a result of the allegations against him, and that the community had called for his bail to be denied.

“A friend who came to visit me in prison told me that he asked the protestors if they knew me or the deceased. They said they did not, and that they were paid to protest outside court and hold placards.

“When my friend asked the people why they were there, they told him that they were paid by the newspapers or whoever is publishing the news,” Kudoos said.

Kengan-Narainsamy said in Kudoos affidavit, he said he had believed that his release on bail would not disturb public order.

“If people were protesting outside court against your release, is that not a public outcry?” she asked.

Kudoos said he was not sure, as he did not have knowledge of protesting.

When questioned about whether he still had his job, Kudoos said he was unsure if he was still an employee of Sars.

“My manager had visited me in prison and told me that my absence from work would result in me being given unpaid leave. I am not sure if I am still an employee of Sars. Even my manager did not know. He said he would consult with HR (human resources) and get back to me,” Kudoos said.

He said the money that he had in his savings, which would have been used to pay his bail, would be depleted if the bail hearing took longer than a month.

“My father will assist me with payment of bail by asking family members for financial assistance. If I am granted bail they would have to rake up the money,” Kudoos responded.

At the start of his bail application earlier this month, Kudoos said he intended to plead not guilty, claiming he “cannot remember” the incidents.

He said he could not remember if he had his firearm with him when he was arrested.

He claimed his time in prison was affecting him as there were food shortages and the food served at Westville Prison was “not good for human consumption”.

He told the court he would be able to afford R5 000 bail.

His bail application was postponed, and Kudoos was remanded into custody to Westville Prison.

POST