Madlanga Commission calls out Carrim over bail condition breach

North West businessman, Suliman Carrim, has failed to comply with court’s bail conditions.

Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers

The Madlanga Commission has confirmed that North West businessman Suliman Carrim has failed to comply with a specific bail condition imposed by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The condition required his attorneys to report in person to the commission within 48 hours to arrange his next appearance before the inquiry.

The court granted him R100,000 bail on Wednesday in his contempt-of-court case, with strict conditions.

However, instead of physically reporting as required, his attorneys merely wrote to the Commission drawing attention to the court judgment.

“The bail condition requires Carrim's attorneys to take the initiative and 'report in person, within 48 hours, to [the Commission] ... in order to make the necessary arrangements for [Carrim's] next appearance before the Inquiry'

“Thus the attorneys have not taken the initiative envisaged in the relevant bail condition. As a result, Carrim has failed to comply with the bail condition,” the commission said in a statement.

The commission said this does not satisfy the bail condition.

The implications of this development could be significant as the commission continues its work.

This means a warrant of arrest would be issued for the businessman. 

The directive, issued on Wednesday, forms part of 12 stringent bail conditions imposed on Carrim.

He was arrested earlier this month at OR Tambo International Airport following repeated failures to honour subpoenas requiring him to testify before the commission.

The state claimed that Carrim wanted to flee the country but the defence team denied that.