Durban multi-millionaire Thoshan Panday was nabbed at the OR Tambo International Airport yesterday morning in a dramatic arrest by the Hawks.
Panday, who was apprehended soon after he disembarked from a flight from Lusaka, Zambia, is currently in custody and is being questioned about allegations that he provided R2 million to a policeman, Colonel Navin Madhoe, to bribe the KwaZulu-Natal head of the Hawks, Major-General Johan Booysen.
The warrant for his arrest was issued during the course of the week after the KwaZulu-Natal director of public prosecutions, Advocate Simphiwe Mlotshwa, found there was sufficient evidence to pursue a charge against Panday.
Panday, 39, who had been in contact with The Sunday Independent earlier this week, said he had been out of the country on urgent business. On Friday he said he was due back in South Africa yesterday and vehemently denied any involvement in the alleged bribe.
“Anyone doing anything wrong in my country must be arrested. It’s a simple case… it’s not intricate. If the police have evidence then they must arrest… they must not go on allegations,” Panday said.
He said if police did not have sufficient evidence against him then he was ready to pursue a civil claim against “those who have used my name in vain”.
“Then I can retire in style. It’s as simple as that,” said Panday on Friday.
Hawks spokesman Colonel McIntosh Polela confirmed that a Durban businessman was arrested and charged with corruption and defeating the ends of justice.
Polela said the businessman was due to appear in the Durban Commercial Crimes court tomorrow.
Madhoe was arrested two weeks ago, shortly after he allegedly put R1.362 million in bribe money in the boot of Booysen’s car, in exchange for a document containing sensitive information relating to an investigation into a R60m World Cup police accommodation scam.
The remainder of the money was allegedly to be paid later.
On Thursday Madhoe’s bail application was adjourned until tomorrow after the State, represented by advocate Bheki Manyati, asked to be given extra time to consider a supplementary affidavit handed in by Madhoe’s advocate Joe Wolmarans (instructed by attorney Ravin Maniklall). - Niyanta Singh