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Desmond Nair, the suspended chief magistrate of Pretoria, pleaded not guilty to corruption charges related to alleged security upgrades at his home. The trial began on Monday at the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court. The State presented its first witness, an employee of a Bosasa subsidiary now called African Global Operations. The witness testified that security upgrades were installed at Nair’s Gauteng residence in September 2016. According to Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame, the upgrades allegedly included an electric fence, an alarm system, perimeter beams and closed‑circuit television (CCTV) cameras. The State claims the installations were a form of gratification offered to and received by Nair to influence his conduct as a judicial officer. The allegations date back to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, chaired by former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. In 2019, former Bosasa employee Richard Le Roux testified before the commission that security systems worth approximately R200,000 had been installed at Nair’s Pretoria home. Le Roux said he had been instructed to oversee security installations at the homes of several prominent individuals. The upgrades at Nair’s residence were among the benefits linked to Bosasa that came under scrutiny during the inquiry. Bosasa, through its subsidiaries, was alleged to have provided security installations and other benefits to influential people, raising questions about whether such arrangements were intended to secure favour or influence from public officials. Mamothame said Nair was among those whose alleged links to the company prompted investigations into possible misconduct. Nair has disputed the allegations, stating that the security work was carried out under an agreement with a man identified as Doofjam Kumar Bejoo. According to reports, Nair said the agreement covered the installation of a basic camera system and repairs to existing security equipment, including the electric fence and alarm system, at an agreed maximum cost of R50,000. He denied that the upgrades were received free of charge as a benefit intended to influence his conduct as a magistrate. The corruption case proceeded after the National Director of Public Prosecutions rejected Nair’s representations seeking to have the charges withdrawn in 2024. Nair was suspended from his position as Pretoria chief magistrate in 2020 following allegations that he had received the security upgrades from Bosasa. In addition to the criminal proceedings, misconduct proceedings were instituted against him under the Magistrates Act and the Code of Judicial Conduct for Magistrates. The allegations remain part of the broader scrutiny of relationships between Bosasa and public officials following testimony before the State Capture Commission. Nair’s corruption trial is scheduled to continue on 27 October 2026. Article source: The Independent Online | Image credit: The Independent Online
Desmond Nair, the suspended chief magistrate of Pretoria, pleaded not guilty to corruption charges related to alleged security upgrades at his home. The trial began on Monday at the Pretoria Commercial Crimes Court. The State presented its first witness, an employee of a Bosasa subsidiary now called African Global Operations. The witness testified that security upgrades were installed at Nair’s Gauteng residence in September 2016. According to Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) spokesperson Henry Mamothame, the upgrades allegedly included an electric fence, an alarm system, perimeter beams and closed‑circuit television (CCTV) cameras. The State claims the installations were a form of gratification offered to and received by Nair to influence his conduct as a judicial officer. The allegations date back to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, chaired by former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. In 2019, former Bosasa employee Richard Le Roux testified before the commission that security systems worth approximately R200,000 had been installed at Nair’s Pretoria home. Le Roux said he had been instructed to oversee security installations at the homes of several prominent individuals. The upgrades at Nair’s residence were among the benefits linked to Bosasa that came under scrutiny during the inquiry. Bosasa, through its subsidiaries, was alleged to have provided security installations and other benefits to influential people, raising questions about whether such arrangements were intended to secure favour or influence from public officials. Mamothame said Nair was among those whose alleged links to the company prompted investigations into possible misconduct. Nair has disputed the allegations, stating that the security work was carried out under an agreement with a man identified as Doofjam Kumar Bejoo. According to reports, Nair said the agreement covered the installation of a basic camera system and repairs to existing security equipment, including the electric fence and alarm system, at an agreed maximum cost of R50,000. He denied that the upgrades were received free of charge as a benefit intended to influence his conduct as a magistrate. The corruption case proceeded after the National Director of Public Prosecutions rejected Nair’s representations seeking to have the charges withdrawn in 2024. Nair was suspended from his position as Pretoria chief magistrate in 2020 following allegations that he had received the security upgrades from Bosasa. In addition to the criminal proceedings, misconduct proceedings were instituted against him under the Magistrates Act and the Code of Judicial Conduct for Magistrates. The allegations remain part of the broader scrutiny of relationships between Bosasa and public officials following testimony before the State Capture Commission. Nair’s corruption trial is scheduled to continue on 27 October 2026.
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