Suspended Pretoria chief magistrate Desmond Nair has pleaded not guilty to corruption charges in the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court, in a trial linked to the former Bosasa group. Nair appeared in court yesterday (Monday 26 October).

Charges

Nair faces charges of corruption for allegedly receiving security upgrades valued at about R200 000 to his Gauteng home from African Global Operations, formerly known as Bosasa, in September 2016. The upgrades included an electric fence, alarm system, perimeter beams and a CCTV system.

Trial

The state alleges the gratification was offered and received for Nair to act dishonestly or improperly in his position as a judicial officer.

The trial commenced with the state leading its evidence through its first witness, an employee of a Bosasa subsidiary, who testified about the alleged installation of security upgrades at Nair’s home.

The matter was adjourned to today (Tuesday 27 October) for further trial.

ALSO READ: Bosasa whistleblower Angelo Agrizzi accepts plea deal in major corruption case

Suspended in 2020

Nair first appeared in court on the corruption charges on 10 October 2022. At the time, the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services said misconduct proceedings had also been instituted against him under the Magistrates Act, 1993 and the Code of Judicial Conduct for Magistrates.

Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola said then: “All persons are equal before the law, whether they are lay persons or officers of the court. The law must now take its course, as it would in every criminal case. Justice must not only be done, but manifestly be seen to be done.”

ALSO READ: Concern raised over disciplinary proceedings involving judges

Lamola provisionally suspended Nair on 24 February 2020, on the advice of the Magistrates Commission. Parliament later confirmed the suspension.

The Ministry then said Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development John Jeffery had on numerous occasions expressed his concerns to the Magistrates Commission about delays in misconduct proceedings against magistrates.

ALSO READ: Court orders Gauteng Human Settlements to pay R68,3 m after decade-long battle