Four men sanctioned in US for alleged links to 'Isis cell leader' are free in South Africa

Despite serious allegations levelled against alleged Islamic State funder Farhad Hoomer and his co-accused, they walked out of court free men when their cases were provisionally withdrawn last year.

Hoomer, Yunus Mohamad Akbar and Nufael Akbar were still free on Tuesday when the US state department designated them and Mohamed Akbar and Umar Akbar — all alleged members of an Islamic State cell in South Africa — as well as eight companies run or controlled by them for providing support to the terrorist group.

The US state department described Hoomer as an Isis cell leader, who continued to pursue Isis’s objectives in Southern Africa and express the will and intent to attack the interests of the US and its allies.

Brothers Nufael and Yunus Akbarwere said to be senior members of a Durban-based Isis cell led by Hoomer.

“Nufael Akbar has collaborated with and been directed by Hoomer. Nufael Akbar is a central commanding figure in the Durban-based Isis cell. Yunus Akbar functions as an enforcer and logistical co-ordinator for the Isis cell,” the US state department said on Tuesday.

“Today’s action also targets two other Hoomer associates, Mohamad Akbar and Umar Akbar, who were arrested in 2018 by South African authorities along with Hoomer for their involvement in a plan to deploy improvised incendiary devices near a mosque and commercial retail buildings.

“Nufael Akbar, Yunus Mohamad Akbar, Mohamad Akbar, and Umar Akbar are being designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Isis.”

Hoomer is no stranger to terror-related accusations. In October 2018 police arrested him and 11 others in a raid at his Nugget Road house, where they found an emaciated and malnourished foreigner chained in the cellar.

Among the charges against the 12 was an attack earlier in the year at the Imam Hussain Mosque in Verulam in which mechanic Abbas Essop had his throat slit.

Hoomer also stood accused of masterminding a series of terrorist-related firebomb attacks at Woolworths stores and the Durban July horse racing event that same year.

While out on R200,000 bail Hoomer was again arrested, this time for possession of firearms, ammunition and suspected stolen property. 

On June 25 last year Hoomer, Mohamad Akbar, Nufael Akbar, Tariq Hamid and Ikkram Khan were arrested after a raid at business premises in Mayville. Police spokesperson Col Thembeka Mbele said a search warrant was obtained for the Mayville residence after police followed up on information about a house that was broken into in Scottburgh, on the KZN KwaZulu-Natal south coast. 

Mbele said a search warrant was executed and more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition, a Norinco AK-47 rifle, seven cellphones, two magazines, another rifle as well as diamonds and jewellery were seized. 

They appeared in court on June 28 but the charges were dropped.

At the time, director of public prosecutions KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Natasha Kara said the state concluded there was insufficient evidence to keep the matter on the court roll.

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