The Durban High Court has dismissed Durban businessman Thoshan Panday’s appeal for bail.
Panday, 52, was arrested on September 5 for allegedly defrauding the South African Revenue Services (Sars) of R7.3 million.
Panday was denied bail a week later in the magistrate’s court and took the decision on appeal to the high court.
Judgment in the appeal was delivered in the Durban High Court on Monday. Panday was not present in court.
He is said to be receiving medical treatment at a private hospital in Durban after being transported there from Westville Prison.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) said it noted the dismissal of Panday’s bail appeal by the high court.
“In her judgment, Judge Esther Steyn concluded that Panday is a flight risk, considering that he had supplied false information to the court when he applied to relax his bail conditions to travel to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Europe and other countries listed in his itinerary.”
The IDAC said that Panday had travelled to the US, deviating from what the court had authorised.
“The judgment also highlighted that releasing Panday on bail will bring the criminal justice system into disrepute,” said Henry Mamothame, IDAC spokesperson.
The matter will return to the Durban High Court on October 24, 2024.
In a separate matter, Panday is also charged alongside nine accused currently appearing in the Durban High Court on fraud and corruption charges pertaining to an accommodation tender for the SAPS during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Panday has been implicated as the sole member of a company which was awarded contracts for accommodation, allegedly at inflated prices, for police members deployed within KwaZulu-Natal.
Among the accused are his wife and mother and former provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni. Panday was granted bail of R100 000 bail in that matter.
The Mercury