CAPE TOWN – Nearly five years after the gruesome discovery of Previn Pillay's dismembered body in a burning suitcase, the State has revealed the alleged plot orchestrated by the so-called "Suitcase Killers" to carry out the heinous crime. Riefaat Loofer, Glenville Jansen, and Franklin van Niekerk are set to face trial at the Western Cape High Court on 29 April, charged with conspiracy to commit murder, robbery, murder, and defeating the ends of justice.
The case dates back to December 2020, when Pillay, 29, was last seen leaving his home in Pinelands in his white Toyota bakkie on 23 December. The discovery of his remains at Hazendal Train Station in Athlone sent shockwaves through the local community.
Eyewitnesses at the station reported seeing a man dragging a large travel suitcase towards the subway. The man then set the suitcase alight, causing it to emit smoke. Staff members rushed to extinguish the flames, but the suspect fled the scene. Upon opening the suitcase, they were confronted with a horrifying sight: a dismembered human body. The head and one arm were missing.
DNA tests later confirmed the body to be that of Previn Pillay. To this day, his head has never been found, adding another layer of macabre mystery to the case.
According to the new indictment, the State alleges that Pillay had entered into a business arrangement with Loofer and had deposited money into Loofer's bank account prior to his death. The State believes this business relationship may have been a motive for the murder.
The prosecution's case further outlines a series of events leading up to the discovery of Pillay's body. A month before the murder, Loofer allegedly rented a property in Sea Point. Cellphone records indicate that on 23 December 2020, the day Pillay disappeared, Loofer and Jansen were both in Sea Point.
The indictment suggests that Pillay left his home on that fateful day to meet Loofer in Sea Point. However, his vehicle was later driven to Matroosfontein. The State alleges that Van Niekerk parked the car in Parow, and the following day, it was taken to Elsies River where it was stripped, presumably to eliminate any evidence linking the trio to the crime.
Adding to the intrigue, court documents reveal that Loofer's cellphone records show he booked an e-hailing cab from his house in Sea Point to Hazendal Train Station on the very day Pillay's body was discovered. This detail places Loofer at the scene of the crime, further implicating him in the murder.
The investigation into Pillay's death was led by officers from the Provincial Organised Crime Unit. Their investigation led them to Van Niekerk, 52, who was apprehended at his home in Elsies River in February 2021. Two months later, they arrested Jansen, 53.
Loofer, believed to be the mastermind behind the plot, evaded capture for several months. He was eventually traced living among homeless people under a bridge in Woodstock, highlighting the stark contrast between his alleged crime and his eventual circumstances.
The upcoming trial promises to be a complex and emotionally charged affair. The State is expected to present a wealth of evidence, including cellphone records, forensic analysis, and witness testimony, to prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. The defence, on the other hand, is likely to challenge the State's evidence and present alternative explanations for the events leading up to Pillay's death.
The "Suitcase Killers" case has captivated the public imagination, not only because of the gruesome nature of the crime but also because of the intricate web of relationships and events that have been uncovered during the investigation. As the trial approaches, the families of both the victim and the accused are bracing themselves for a difficult and painful process. The pursuit of justice for Previn Pillay continues, and the trial will be a crucial step in bringing closure to this tragic chapter in Cape Town's history.
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