Hitman reveals R2 million murder plot against former councillor Brijmohan

A CONVICTED murderer has testified in court that he and his accomplice were promised R2 million to kill former ward 90 councillor and businessman Sunil Brijmohan.

In the Durban Regional Court this week, Santure Kirwin Mkhize revealed how what was initially planned as a robbery turned into a calculated assassination.

Mkhize, who pleaded guilty to murder and turned State witness, was testifying during the trial of Brijmohan’s friend, Vikash Brian Sewnath, 46; Vernon Chetty, 26; Farah Moosa, 25; and Sibusiso Ngcobo, 26. All four men, who are charged with murder, pleaded not guilty. 

Mkhize, 33, and Al-Barakh Jaleel Van Rooyen, 21, who was also arrested and charged for murder, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 18 years imprisonment. 

They are both witnesses for the State in the trial. Van Rooyen has already testified. 

Brijmohan, 46,was shot and killed outside a building site in Amanzimtoti on October 21, 2022. 

Mkhize, during his evidence-in-chief, told the court that prior to the incident he knew Chetty, Moosa and Ngcobo, who were all from Chatsworth. 

He said he bought car parts from the, and they knew good mechanics. 

Mkhize said sometime during October that year, he was sitting in Chetty’s car together with Ngcobo, Van Rooyen and another person named “Ben”. 

He said while speaking, Chetty informed them that there was a man he knew in possession of “a lot of money”. 

“He said this person must be robbed. We need money. He said he is still going to reveal more detail about it.” 

Mkhize said on the morning of October 21, Ben arrived at his place of residence.

“He came there to wake me up. I must go and commit that robbery. I woke up and proceeded to the main house to wake up Al-Barakh. I told him these guys want us to commit the robbery.”

Mkhize said they went to the road and saw two vehicles - one which belonged to Chetty and the other to Moosa. He said together with Van Rooyen and Ben, they jumped into Chetty’s car. 

Mkhize said Chetty handed him a firearm. 

“He (Chetty) said this person we are going to rob is in possession of 500k (R500 000). I asked how we were going to travel, and he pointed to accused two’s (Moosa) vehicle. I asked accused three (Ngcobo), if accused two was aware of the plan, he said no, he knows we are going to collect money.”

Mkhize said he together with Van Rooyen and Ben jumped into Moosa’s car and followed Chetty’s vehicle to Amanzimtoti. 

He said as they were driving Chetty pointed to a construction site with a green net, and then they parked at a nearby garage. 

“He parked there, bought some pies and juice. Then we saw a vehicle parked by there (construction site). Accused one (Chetty) told us that was the vehicle with the money.

“We started driving towards there, and I told accused two to reduce speed and park on the side of the road. Accused two and Ben remained inside. Al-Barakh and I stepped out and started walking down the road. When we were very close, we saw the vehicle drive away. 

“Al-Barakh received a call from accused one. He said plans have now changed. We must kill this person, Sunil, and we will get R2 million. We realised it was too big. We could not stop this job. 

“We had seen a picture of Sunil because we were supposed to rob him. Sunil was in the yard. I signalled to him to come close to us, as a person wanting a job. When he came closer, I asked him, ‘Are you Sunil?’. He said yes. I then did what I did. I shot him three times,” he said. 

Mkhize said they then started running towards their getaway vehicle. 

“We met up with the car. It was coming towards us. Ben already had the door open for us. Accused two wanted to jump out. He said ‘I am not here to do this’. I produced the firearm and told him to drive on. He kept saying this.”

Mkhize said he, together with Chetty, Moosa, Ngcobo, Van Rooyen and Ben went to Chatsworth. 

“As soon as we arrived there, I warned accused two not to speak about what happened and then he ran away.” 

Mkhize said they started discussing when they would get paid. 

“Accused one said the person who directed us to do this said we must meet at a place in town. Accused one explained that the person killed was abusing his wife and was building a house for his girlfriend. 

“On arrival at the place, it was closed. We asked people around us and they said the owner had just been killed. Accused one phoned the man again. He said he was at the scene where the victim was shot and would meet us later,” he said. 

Mkhize said they met the person later on in the Jacobs area. 

When asked who the person was, he said Sewnath. 

“He asked who killed Sunil. I said it was me. He said good job. This person was very abusive to his family and was a bad person. He then took out his phone and made a call. He mentioned the name ‘Divakar’ and said he was sitting with the guys; we have done this job. The person on the phone said give them whatever you have.”

Mkhize said they were given R20 000. 

“Accused four (Sewnath) said please take this for now. He said they are still waiting for the insurance to payout, but we will definitely get our money. Al-Barakh and I each took R5 000. The other three (Chetty, Ngcobo and Ben) shared the R10 000."  

Mkhize said the following month they had not received any payment. 

“Accused one again called accused four to ask him. He said they were still waiting for the insurance payment. He (Sewnath) then sent R3 000, then R2 000, which we shared.”

Mkhize said they continued to request for their payment. 

“We then met with the accused four again in November in Mobeni. I told him ‘see here, we are not playing’. I wanted him to realise we are very serious. I am the one who done the job. He took out his phone again and called that person, Divakar. We heard him saying, ‘Give them whatever you have’. He took out an envelope from his cubby, with R10 000…” 

The trial continues.

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