Madlanga Commission | Commission to lay criminal charges against Carrim

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry Chairperson, Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, says the commission will lay criminal charges against controversial North West businessman, Suliman Carrim.

This follows Carrim’s repeated failure to comply with the commission’s subpoenas to testify and submit financial statements for his businesses, citing ill health.

Carrim has breached at least four of the commission’s subpoenas, citing hospitalisation after an alleged heart attack he suffered while at a gym, in Sandton, earlier this year.

Madlanga says the decision is aimed at protecting the integrity of the inquiry.

However Carrim’s lawyer, Advocate Kameel Prehmid, says criminal proceedings against his client would be an extreme measure.

The commission’s evidence leader, Advocate Adila Hassim, has urged the commission to make its findings based on evidence currently before it against Carrim.

The commission previously ruled that Carrim could only be excused from testifying if he was examined by an independent medical specialist appointed by the commission.

Hassim says the commission cannot afford to give Carrim any more time.

“There is limited time remaining for this commission to complete its mandate. At this point we submit it is appropriate for the commission to simply make it’s findings based on its assessment of the evidence that’s already before the commission in the previous appearance which Mr. Carrim was present and the evidence that has also been provided and also on the basis that there is certain information that has still not been furnished, ” said Hassim.

Meanwhile, Investigating Directorate Against Corruption’s (IDAC) State Advocate, Drushatha Ramsamy, suggested that the directorate’s on suspended National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, intensified after he refused to suspend Crime Intelligence officials as recommended.

Ramsamy returned to the witness stand at the Madlanga Commission on Friday, where she testified about the investigation into Crime Intelligence officials implicated in the alleged irregular appointment of Brigadier Dineo Mokwele.

Earlier this year, Masemola was drawn into a national inquiry into procurement irregularities over the alleged unlawful awarding of a R360 million health services contract to Medicare 24, a company owned by alleged underworld figure, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

Ramsamy said IDAC wanted to see both Masemola and Crime Intelligence head, Dumisani Khumalo, removed from office.

“This just further demonstrates to me the determination with which this project was conducted. In my view the intention was to target General Masemola and General Khumalo until they were no longer in office. The attack against General Masemola may have intensified when he did not suspend General Khumalo and the other accused in the Mokwele matter,” said Ramsamy.

Ramsamy further testified that she became aware of an alleged plot by some IDAC officials to have her arrested.

She said a colleague called her in August last year to alert her to the alleged plot.

Ramsamy testified that suspended chief investigator Dylan Perumal, suspended Senior Investigator Brian Padayachee and another senior state advocate were allegedly behind the plot to have her arrested before any Commission of Inquiry or parliamentary committee could be established.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao