Relatives applaud bail verdict

RELATIVES of a Durban businessman and a senior policeman clapped their hands in the public gallery of the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday after bail was fixed at R100 000 and R40 000 cash respectively.

Magistrate Thomas Nkleko ruled there was no evidence that the accused, tycoon Thoshan Panday, and Colonel Navin Madhoe, had interfered with the State witnesses regarding the corruption charges they were facing.

The magistrate said it was in the interest of justice that Panday and Madhoe be granted bail. The State alleged Panday, of Umhlanga, and Madhoe, of the supply chain management department at Provincial headquarters, had attempted to bribe Major General Johan Booysen, the head of the Hawks in KwaZulu-Natal, by giving him R1.3 million in cash. The State claimed the accused wanted Booysen to backdate a report into a R60 million tender scam.

In papers filed in the Durban High Court (which came about after Panday moved an application against police top brass) the State alleged Panday was the mastermind behind the scam. It claimed he received R44 million from the SA Police Services for bed and breakfast services but that the figures were grossly inflated by Panday.

The State alleged Madhoe was a party to the scam. Yesterday a relaxed Panday, represented by advocate Joe Wolmarans and attorney Tash Giyapersad, and Madhoe, represented by advocate Jimmy Howse and attorney Ravindra Maniklall, shook the hands of relatives after they got bail.

Nkleko ordered the accused to report to the Durban Central Police Station on Mondays and Fridays between 6am and 8pm, that they must surrender their passports; to not apply for new passports; they do not leave the Durban metropolitan area, they inform of any change in their residential address; and they do not interfere with the State witnesses and the investigations.

POST was unable to obtain a comment from Panday. Panday’s and Madhoe’s next appearance is on November 29. - Post, page 1