Referred to as: Asif Habib Muhammad · Mr Asif Muhammad
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A docket numbered Pretoria West CAS 7/05/21 was referenced in relation to the article provided by Mr Asif Muhammad.
“the article according to your paragraph 31 makes reference to a Pretoria West CAS 7 / 0 5 / 2 1 .”
Mr Bellochun contacted Witness N via WhatsApp making him understand who he was using the same phone number registered as 'Suneel Bro' on Mr Asif Muhammad's phone.
“On the 22nd of December 2025, I was contacted by Mr Bellochun via a WhatsApp call and text making me to understand who he was ... Which is the same number that Mr Asif Muhammad has registered as 'Suneel Bro' on his phone.”
The assault case where Mr Asif Muhammad is the complainant is registered as East London CAS 36/9/2025 and was filed undetected on 9 October 2025, per the docket obtained by Witness N.
“The assault case where Mr Asif Muhammad is the complainant is registered as East London CAS 36/9/2025 ... I noted that the assault docket was closed as undetected ... it is the 9th of October 2025 that the docket was filed undetected.”
Mr Asif Muhammad arrived in South Africa in 1998 as an undocumented immigrant from Pakistan and began a small shop where he was later extorted and demanded bribes by Mr Bellochun who also sold counterfeit cigarettes and helped obtain fraudulent South African identity documents.
“he arrived in South Africa in 1998 as an undocumented immigrant from Pakistan ... he was pulled over by Mr Bellochun for driving without a licence ... Mr Bellochun demanded a bribe ... Mr Bellochun began extorting money from Mr Asif Muhammad as well as other Pakistani shopkeepers ... Mr Bellochun participated in unlawful activities such as selling counterfeit cigarettes and ... assisted some Pakistani nationals to obtain fraudulent South African identity documents in exchange for money.”
Mr Bellochun extorted money at exorbitant rates through loans and kept a car when the lender was unable to repay, selling it himself and keeping the money.
“He had borrowed money from Mr Bellochun at exorbitant rates and even after paying Mr Bellochun back, Mr Bellochun continued to demand more money ... explained that he gave his car to Mr Bellochun to keep until he repaid the loan ... Mr Bellochun refused and instead sold the car himself and kept all the money.”
Mr Bellochun regularly demands money from Mr Asif Muhammad, interpreted as extortion and a protection fee.
“Mr Bellochun regularly demands money from him”
Mr Bellochun sent threatening WhatsApp messages to Mr Asif Muhammad demanding money and threatening to kill him.
“Mr Bellochun asking him to pay his money back or else he will kill him”
The WhatsApp messages were highlighted to show regular demands of money and threats to Mr Asif Muhammad, evidencing escalation of violence.
“reading of the messages reveals a pattern of Mr Bellochun repeatedly demanding money from Mr Asif Muhammad and threats to him are highlighted”
Mr Asif Muhammad provided WhatsApp printouts and bank statements to support claims of extortion by Mr Bellochun.
“He shared a printout of the WhatsApp conversation which I attach as X7 .. He also provided bank extracts.”
The message, "I will kill you" was sent on 21 August 2025 at 17:25 by sender Suneel Bru.
“where it says: 'I will kill you' ... date is the 21st of August 2025 at 17:25 ... sender of the message is ... 'Suneel. Bru'”
On 11 September 2025, sender Suneel Bru sent a WhatsApp message to Mr Asif Muhammad saying "My people are looking for you".
“The message is written at 16:23 by Suneel Bru, and it says: 'My people are looking for you.'”
On 26 September 2025, sender Suneel Bru sent multiple grave insulting and threatening WhatsApp messages including "Dies, you crook bastard" and "You must die in the streets. You are rotten. Muslim bastard..." to Mr Asif Muhammad.
“On 26th September 2025 at 1:24 Suneel Bru text: 'Dies, your crook bastard.' ... also 'You must die in the streets. You are rotten. Muslim bastard, God knows you are a crook.'”
The date of these threatening WhatsApp messages is one day before the assault on Mr Asif Muhammad.
“that date is one day before the assault that Mr Asif relate to you he was the victim of”
Mr Asif Muhammad has two Nedbank accounts, a business account in the name of Suneel Bellochun and a regular personal account.
“That blue box depicts the account of Suneel Bellochun, which is his normal account that was given to Asif Muhammad by him. So he had two different accounts, one business account and this one, but both of them are Nedbank.”
Mr Asif Muhammad made transactions totaling R203,099.88 to the account of Suneel Bellochun.
“the transactions he made to that account amounted to R 203,099.88”
The total value of transactions made (presumably including to Suneel Bellochun accounts) is R84,300.00.
“the total of the transactions made is R 84,300.00”
Mr Asif Muhammad explained the abuse and extortion he faced and wanted to provide proof and evidence of criminal activities through WhatsApp messages and bank transactions.
“He was explaining the kind of abuse that he is faced as well as the extortion ... to gather the evidence, this was, indeed concluded to amount to criminal activities”
Mr Asif Muhammad stated that some payments were rent and other payments appeared to be loans from Mr Suneel Bellochun with exorbitant interest, possibly protection fees.
“Some, Commissioners, of the payments are that of rent and then the other transactions are that when he says he had borrowed a certain amount of money from Mr Suneel Bellochun and he would charge an interest, but the interest there shows to have been paid exorbitantly.”
WITNESS N inferred that the payments might have been protection fees but noted a proper investigation is needed, including subpoenaing bank records.
“So I drew an inference to say this could have been protection fees because of what he narrated to me.”
Payments by Mr Asif Muhammad to Mr Bellochun included rent and borrowed money with uncertain specifics due to lack of contract details.
“If in certain parts of what Mr Muhammad told you, he acknowledged that he paid rent to Mr Bellochun and in certain instances she borrowed money from you, was an exercise done in order to attempt to determine what exactly, which transactions specifically he claims were with reference to the payment of so-called protection fees.”
WITNESS N provided an affidavit made by Mr Asif Muhammad stating Mr Muhammad was suspended from work in 2014.
“"In the year 2014, he was suspended from work."”
There are other exploited foreign shop owners besides Mr Asif Muhammad making similar complaints of extortion.
“It is beyond Asif Muhammad coming forth. It is, there is other exploited foreigners.”
Mr Asif Muhammad repeatedly pressed WITNESS N for law enforcement assistance against Mr Bellochun, showing a warrant of arrest issued for Bellochun as per Pretoria West CAS 97/05/2021.
“Mr Asif Muhammad remained quite adamant that he wanted some assistance. In particular, he asked me, as a law enforcement officer, how can a person who is a wanted suspect with a J50 warrant of arrest work for an organisation such as IDAC? I asked him what was he talking about, and he then showed me an article displaying that a warrant for arrest was issued for Mr Bellochun, which was as per Pretoria West CAS 97/05/2021.”
Mr Asif Muhammad was assaulted by his landlord, Suneel Bellochun, on 27 September 2025, who allegedly punched him causing physical injuries; Mr Bellochun was a law enforcement officer and member of IDAC.
“In December 025, an initial meeting was held between Mr Neil, Mr Asif Muhammad, members of the Tactical Response Team, and I. At that meeting, Mr Asif Muhammad informed me that he had been assaulted by his landlord, which is Mr Suneel Bellochun on the 27th of September 2025. He explained that this landlord was a law enforcement officer and a member of IDAC. He said that during the assault, Mr Bellochun had punched him, leaving him with a bloody nose, loose teeth, and torn clothes.”
Mr Asif Muhammad went to the East London Police Station on the day of his assault and laid a criminal charge against Mr Bellochun for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
“Mr Asif Muhammad explained that on the same day of his assault, he went to the East London Police Station and laid a criminal charge against Mr Bellochun for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.”
Later that day, Mr Asif Muhammad received a threatening phone call from someone claiming to be calling from East London Police Station, during which Mr Bellochun was heard shouting threats towards Mr Muhammad.
“He further explained that on the same day, he received a telephone call from someone who said that they are calling from the East London Police Station. While he was still speaking to that person, Mr Bellochun could be heard shouting that Mr Asif Muhammad must come back to the police station and that my police will deal with you.”
Members of the Tactical Response Team were present at an initial meeting between Mr Neil, Mr Asif Muhammad, and Witness N regarding the assault complaint against Mr Bellochun.
“In December 025 , an initial meeting was held between Mr Neil, Mr Asif Muhammad, members of the Tactical Response Team , and I .”