North West businessman and politician Carrim may have feigned illness to avoid testifying before the Madlanga Commission, where a litany of allegations of criminality have emerged against him, the court has heard.
The allegation was made by prosecutor Donald Shiko, who is opposing Carrim’s release on bail following his arrest at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday, shortly before he was due to board a flight to Saudi Arabia via Dubai.
During cross-examination, Shiko insisted that Carrim did not appear to be ill, suggesting that his planned trip to the Middle East was itself an indication that he was well enough to travel.
Carrim, a former ANC Ngaka Modiri-Molema Regional Treasurer, has been charged with contempt of court for failing to appear before the commission. The charge follows a protracted legal battle with the inquiry’s evidence leaders over his appearance.
Shiko questioned Carrim’s account of his health during the bail hearing, challenging his earlier statements that he had been getting better.
“Was it not your testimony to say that you were getting better before this arrest that was effected on you yesterday?” Shiko asked.
“I said I was trying to get better. So, the wording that you used to say that I was getting better, honestly, I got it wrong. I was trying to get better,” Carrim responded.
The prosecutor further accused Carrim of tailoring his testimony to suit his objectives, alleging that he had changed his version of events three times during the bail proceedings.
“I need to put it to you that I’m going to argue it to say that you were changing your behaviour, tailoring your behaviour throughout the cross-examination. Do you have a response?” Shiko asked.
Carrim maintained that he was unwell and said his doctor had advised against him being cross-examined.
“Like I said to you, I’m not in a position, I’m not well, obviously, I’m not well. My doctor even now advised me not to be cross-examined, but my counsellor said I have to,” he said during the tense exchange.
Carrim faces multiple criminal investigations linked to alleged tender-rigging in North West and Gauteng. These include matters linked to Tembisa Hospital, where whistle-blower Babita Deokaran was shot and killed.
The allegations raised during the bail proceedings remain contested, and the court will have to consider the competing arguments as it determines whether Carrim should be released on bail.