Courtroom drama: 'Teddy Mafia' family member arrested for murder while facing another trial

A SHALLCROSS man related to notorious drug kingpin 'Teddy Mafia' was arrested for murder just moments before he was due to stand trial for attempted murder.

Nashlin Krishin now faces charges for the execution-style killing of Justin Pillay, who was shot over 30 times in his home in July this year.

It emerged in court that Krishin, 28, was a relative of the late drug kingpin Yaganathan ‘Teddy Mafia’ Pillay.

He was arrested by detectives on Friday, moments before he was due to appear in the Durban Regional Court with Teddy Mafia’s son-in-law and grandson for start of the attempted murder trial of Andile Cele in September 2024.

Cele was employed by Pillay and was shot during an altercation between Teddy Mafia's family and Pillay.

Pillay, 40, was shot over 30 times in his head, face, and body when armed men posing as police officers allegedly forced their way into his flat and shot him while he was asleep in his bedroom.

He was killed in full view of his father, Poobalan Govindsamy Pillay, 68.

Sipho Makhaya and Simphiwe Mbambo were arrested last week for his murder.

Makhaya was refused bail while Mbambo abandoned his bail application.

On Monday, Krishin joined Makhaya and Mbambo in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court for their first appearance together for Pillay’s murder.

His attorney Shireen Soobrathi told the court that while he was detained at the Chatsworth SAPS, he was assaulted by metro police officers who were demanding that he confess to Pillay’s murder.

“We ask the court to endorse his injuries and ensure that he receives treatment at the Westville Prison hospital. The State said an ID parade was to be conducted. Despite the fact that the witnesses and the accused grew up together, we will submit ourselves to the ID parade,” she said.

“We request that at Westville Prison, nobody except the investigating officer and the family members of the accused should be allowed to see him. This is due to metro police officers assaulting him to get him to make a confession to the murder,” Soobrathi added.

All three were remanded into police custody until their formal bail application.

Attempted murder:

In the Durban Regional Court on Friday, Krishin stood trial with his co-accused, Isaac Kasan  Naidoo, 44, his son Thayrano Naidoo, 18, and Silas Naidoo, 32, for the attempted murder of Cele.

Isaac is the son-in-law of ‘Teddy Mafia’ Pillay, who was killed in his Shallcross home in January 2021.

Isaac and Thayrano, ‘Teddy Mafia’s’ grandson, were charged with attempted murder, while Krishin and Silas were charged with defeating the ends of justice for allegedly concealing a firearm used in the shooting, and picking up and disposing of spent cartridges from the scene.

All four pleaded not guilty to the charges. The State alleged common purpose.

Advocate Paul Jorgenson, instructed by Soobrathi, said the State wanted to lead video evidence recorded by Pillay, who was now deceased. 

“The deceased (Pillay) was a witness to this case. The State intended to lead evidence of a police officer who was present when the video was being downloaded, but the defense would argue the authenticity of the video,” Jorgenson said.

Magistrate M Mewalall said she would cross the bridge relating to video evidence when she got to it.

State prosecutor Ms P Mzindile, said Cele was shot in his right knee and was hit with stones with the intent to kill him.

Cele was the first witness for the State. He said that he was employed by Pillay as a scrap metal collector.

“I lived with Justin. On the morning of September 2, 2024, we were preparing to go to work. Isaac, Thayrano and Silas came to fight with my boss. I was inside the yard. My boss’s father was also there. When they arrived they were swearing at my boss and attacking him. 

“The fight was about Isaac’s wife and sister. I was also assaulted during the altercation. Silas hit me with stones at the back of my head. 

“The fight continued with my boss. Isaac and Thayrano then pulled out firearms. Isaac shot me and Thayrano shot in the air. Isaac had a silver firearm and Thayrano’s was a brown firearm.

“He shot me because I was working for Justin. He kept saying that I should not be staying with Justin. I think that was why he shot me,” Cele added.

He said after he was shot, he fell to the ground.

“I was lying down on the ground and did not see what happened next. There were a number of people around.

“My boss's sister and Isaac’s wife and family came to the scene. Isaac’s family were swearing at my boss. 

“Krishin came and he took the firearms. He collected the cartridges and they all left. I saw this. My boss’s uncle took me to RK Khan Hospital with his bakkie. I had an x-ray and doctors put plaster of paris on my leg. I was treated and discharged the same day, and I have not fully recovered from my injury.

“Doctors could not remove the bullet, and I feel severe pain whenever it is cold,” he added.

Cele said he knew all four accused prior to the shooting.

“I know them. They sell drugs. They are from the same area. Isaac and Thayrano are father and son. Krishin is Isaac’s nephew and Silas is their relative.

“There were problems between them and my boss before, due to the footage that my boss had." 

He said there were never any problems between him and the accused, however, he claimed that Thayrano had hit him with a firearm prior to the shooting.

The trial is continuing. 

THE POST