The vehicle trafficking case against North West businessman Suliman Carrim has been postponed to 16 November to allow for further investigations.
Carrim appeared before the Musina Magistrate’s Court on Monday, facing charges of vehicle trafficking, fraud and theft, all of which he has denied.
He was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport last month by the Madlanga Commission’s Recommendations Task Team, shortly before he was due to board a flight to Saudi Arabia via Dubai.
The State also accused Carrim of unlawfully employing two foreign nationals who were arrested while allegedly attempting to transport vehicles to Malawi through the Beitbridge Border Post.
In an affidavit read in court by his lawyer, Hendric Potgieter, Carrim denied giving his two co-accused permission to cross the border with the vehicles.
He claimed that he had instructed them to wait for his release from hospital in Cape Town before travelling to visit their families in Malawi.
“I deny that I knew of, approved or took part in the alleged plan for three vehicles to travel together. I knew nothing about an alleged arrangement with Mr Mphatso Lunga or a promised payment of R4,000. At the time, I was a patient in Cape Town,” the affidavit read.
Carrim further denied authorising his co-accused to take the two ABSA-financed vehicles across the border without the bank’s permission.
Meanwhile, although Carrim was granted R100,000 bail in a separate contempt of court case relating to his failure to appear before the Madlanga Commission, he remained in custody because of the vehicle trafficking matter.
Addressing the contempt allegations, his lawyer, Hendric Potgieter, told the court that Carrim had not deliberately failed to appear before the commission. He maintained that his client had communicated that he was in hospital and had submitted medical records to support his absence.
According to the affidavit, Carrim’s legal representatives remained in contact with the commission and attended proceedings on his behalf.
“My legal representatives remained involved and attended on my behalf. The commission always knew how to contact me. On 14 August, my advocate provided details regarding my absence,” the affidavit stated.
Potgieter also argued that Carrim was not a flight risk, pointing out that his residential address in North West was known to the court and that his travel documents had been confiscated.
The matter has been postponed to 16 November for further investigations.
