The Pretoria Magistrates’ Court has granted controversial North West businessman Sulliman Carrim bail of R100,000.
Carrim made a brief court appearance on charges of contempt of court linked to his failure to appear before the Madlanga Commission.
The State, led by prosecutor Donald Shiko, opposed bail, arguing that Carrim had been intercepted with five “voluminous” bags of luggage and had initially held a one-way ticket without a return booking. The State also argued that he had tailored his testimony under cross-examination.
The court, however, found that he had provided sufficient grounds for his release, subject to stringent bail conditions, after the State verified his residential address and the authenticity of his return ticket.
Presiding magistrate Marc Curlewis imposed strict conditions on Carrim, including that he contact the Madlanga Commission within 48 hours to arrange his next appearance before it. He was also ordered to remain in the North West town of Mafikeng and not to leave the area or the country without the written permission of the investigating officer.
Despite being granted bail, Carrim is expected to remain in custody pending the finalisation of a bail application in a vehicle theft case he is facing in the border town of Musina, Limpopo.
In the Limpopo case, the State alleges that Carrim, along with his employees, attempted to take two vehicles that were still being financed into Zimbabwe and later to Malawi.
Carrim has been behind bars since 15 October, when he was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport while preparing to board a flight to Saudi Arabia via Dubai for a religious pilgrimage. He told the court that he was travelling to Saudi Arabia and then to Pakistan to distribute snacks to children.