Suspended chief magistrate Desmond Nair pleads not guilty in R200,000 Bosasa corruption case

Suspended chief Magistrate Desmond Nair.

Suspended Pretoria Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges linked to alleged security upgrades worth approximately R200,000 at his home, as his trial began in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court.

Nair appeared in court on Monday, where the State began presenting evidence through its first witness, an employee of a subsidiary of Bosasa, now known as African Global Operations.

The witness provided evidence relating to the alleged installation of security upgrades at Nair’s Gauteng residence in September 2016.

Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame said the upgrades allegedly included an electric fence, an alarm system, perimeter beams and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.

The State alleges that the security installations constituted gratification offered to and received by Nair to influence him to act dishonestly or improperly in his position as a judicial officer.

The allegations against Nair date back to revelations made during the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, chaired by former chief justice Raymond Zondo.

As previously reported by IOL, former Bosasa employee Richard Le Roux told the commission in 2019 that security systems worth approximately R200,000 had been installed at Nair’s Pretoria home.

Le Roux testified that he had been instructed to oversee security installations at the homes of several prominent individuals. The alleged upgrades at Nair’s residence were among the benefits linked to Bosasa that came under scrutiny during the inquiry.

Bosasa, through its subsidiaries, was alleged to have provided security installations and other benefits to influential people, raising questions about whether these arrangements were intended to secure favour or influence from public officials.

Mamothame said Nair was among those whose alleged links to the company prompted investigations into possible misconduct.

Nair has previously disputed the allegations, maintaining that the security work was undertaken through an agreement with a man identified as Doofjam Kumar Bejoo.

IOL previously reported that Nair said the agreement was for the installation of a basic camera system and repairs to existing security equipment, including the electric fence and alarm system, at an agreed maximum cost of R50,000.

He disputed the State’s version that he received the upgrades free of charge as a benefit intended to influence his conduct as a magistrate.

The corruption case proceeded after the National Director of Public Prosecutions rejected Nair’s representations seeking to have the charges withdrawn in 2024.

Nair was suspended from his position as Pretoria chief magistrate in 2020 following allegations that he had received the security upgrades from Bosasa.

In addition to the criminal proceedings, misconduct proceedings were instituted against him under the Magistrates Act and the Code of Judicial Conduct for Magistrates.

The allegations have remained part of the broader scrutiny of relationships between Bosasa and public officials following testimony before the State Capture Commission.

Nair’s corruption trial continues on October 27, 2026.