Pietermaritzburg - The trial of five Pakistani nationals and two KwaZuluNatal policemen charged with the kidnapping of Underberg businessman Mohsin Patel was again delayed at the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on Wednesday, to the dissatisfaction of the presiding magistrate.
The case first came to court in 2013, when the seven accused first appeared.
Since then, the trial has failed to get started, following several adjournments related to the hiring and firing of legal counsel by the Pakistani nationals.
Khalid Amin, 35, Atif Nasim, 32, Sikander Akhder, 35, Nadeem Akhder, 35, and Nasir Ali, 24, alongside two Pietermaritzburg SAPS flying squad members, Jasandra Supal, 42, and Sizwe Mkhize, 30, appeared briefly in court on Wednesday, where the case was again adjourned to allow for one of the accused to secure legal representation.
The attorney for Nasir Ali, Mohamed Labdullah, told the court that he had been hired by Ali, then fired, rehired, and then had his mandate terminated yet again.
Adding to Labdullah’s woes, Ali was not in court on Wednesday, having failed to come to court from prison because he was ill.
The attorney asked that the court adjourn the case to Friday in order to confirm Ali’s legal position.
Magistrate Bhekizitha Phoswa said it was unfortunate that the trial could not proceed. “Courts do not operate like this,” he said.
The seven accused are charged in connection with the alleged abduction of Patel, who was held in captivity for 22 days by alleged business rivals.
Police and a private security company found Patel chained to a bed in a Shelly Beach house on July 23, 2013, where he had allegedly been tortured, starved and threatened with death.
Patel arrived from India in 2007 and ran a supermarket.
Kidnappers allegedly contacted his father in India demanding R1 million for his release. Supal and Mkhize are on bail of R1 000 each.
Their Pakistani co-accused remain in custody pending the start of the trial.
Daily News