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Home » Sabeir’s death… new wife runs to court to attach millions from family home, including car ‘Hawa GP’… special number plate in memory of late wife

Sabeir’s death… new wife runs to court to attach millions from family home, including car ‘Hawa GP’… special number plate in memory of late wife

There have been major developments since the Laudium Sun reported on the tragic death of well-respected and much liked Sabeir Ismail, who was shot dead late last Tuesday night (Dec 2), at a family home on Baard Road in Raslouw.

What was even more disturbing was when police arrested Sabeir’s son Azhar (35) for the murder of his father, but was subsequently released on R10k bail the next day. After the death of his wife, who he was married to for decades, Hawa (nee Bhamjee), the mother of Azhar and his sister (who since moved to Dubai), Sabeir (66) recently remarried, his new wife being Stephanie Erminlinda Ernest. Sabeir (Bericks) was a former Laudium resident & long serving Sheriff of the Court for Pretoria South West, & acting Sheriff for Pretoria Central, while his son Azhar was appointed Sheriff last month (Nov 1), for the Pretoria South East area. In the latest of developments this week, Stephanie, who had already registered the death of Sabeir at the Masters Office, brought an urgent ex parte application in the Pretoria Magistrates Court, which was granted, whereby she alleged that she was the duly appointed executor of Sabeir’s estate and she was urgently seeking a ‘search and seize’ warrant to take possession of all of Sabeir’s loose assets, worth millions of rand, which were in the Baard Road house where Azhar is presently living. Stephanie further appointed attorney Yusuf Ahmed Sayed Patel as her representative in the matter and to wind up the estate.

Amongst the items belonging to the late Sabeir, which his new wife Stephanie has asked the court to grant to her, as executor:

  • 15 firearms registered in Sabeir’s name.
  • 30 x Kruger Rand coins.
  • Household and clothing items belonging to Sabeir.
  • Confidential and personal documents of Sabeir.
  • Laptops and electronics.
  • All personal belongings of the late Sabeir Ismail.
  • All the contents in two safes.
  • A black Jeep Wrangler, Reg: ‘Hawa GP.’

Police together with members from the Sheriff office of Centurion West and other officials pounced at the Baard Road house at around 3pm on Wednesday (Dec 10) and were believed to have left at around 3am in the early part of Thursday morning. Azhar’s attorney, the charismatic Farouk Valjee, told the Laudium Sun, “We are very disturbed at the way our client was mishandled during the raid by the Sheriff’s Office to seize various items. Items belonging to our client were also seized, clearly with the aim to make our client penniless, so that he would not be able to defend himself appropriately concerning the murder charge. There were about 50 Kruger Coins seized while the court order issued by the Magistrate was specific for 30 coins, which the applicant sought. It is clear to us that this whole exercise brought about by the step-mother of our client was a ‘fishing expedition’ and the idea was to seize all valuables in the house. Remember, the late Sabeir was living with his new wife in Eldo Lakes and one has to ask why then would his valuables be kept in the house of his son. In fact it should also be asked, why did Sabier not live in the massive house in Raslouw with his new wife. We are also considering challenging the validity of the alleged will, whereby his new wife was apparently nominated to be the Executor of Sabeir’s Estate. We find it strange that within days of Sabeir’s unfortunate death, the estate has already been registered and that his new wife is now looking for all his valuables.

Azhar Ismail is apparently considering challenging the will of his late father, Sabeir, where his stepmother was appointed as an executor.
Sabeir Ismail’s loose assets including gold coins, jewellery and even cash which was in the family safe, have been cleared out by his new wife, Stephanie.

Also remember that the Baard Road house belonged to Sabier’s first wife and that there were a number of her valuables that were in the house, which have now been seized. Clearly the order granted to seize all Sabier’s items was vague, as it is debatable as to which items were really his. Our client is certainly considering challenging the court order. Also very worrisome is the news that Sabier’s step-son, Namir Abraham, has been appointed as acting Sheriff in Sabeir’s place, within such a short space of time. We find this highly irregular and we intend probing this appointment.

When asked by the Laudium Sun if Azhar was still practicing as a Sheriff, Farouk said, “I can confirm that the appointment of our client as Sheriff of Pretoria South East has been revoked by the Minister of Justice with immediate effect.”

Charismatic attorney, Farouk Valjee, said he believed that valuables which belonged to Sabeir’s late wife Hawa, were also seized by Sabeir’s new wife, Stephanie.

The Laudium Sun contacted the alleged family spokesperson, Attorney Yusuf (Joey) Ebrahim, for a comment on this matter. However, at the time of going to press, no response had been received.

Local attorney, Yusuf Ahmed Sayed Patel, has been appointed by Stephanie to fast track the winding up of the late Sabeir’s estate.

*It is unknown who all the beneficiaries of Sabeir’s estate are. Sabeir is known to have owned a vast amount of fixed property, accumulated over the years.