Carrim's bail hearing postponed over court logistics

North West businessman Suliman Carrim will have to wait another week to apply for bail in a case involving the alleged attempted theft of two vehicles and the use of fraudulent documents to move them across the border.

Carrim’s bail application was postponed to October 30 in the Musina magistrate’s court on Thursday after the court could not accommodate the matter on its full roll.

He briefly appeared in court on charges linked to two vehicles belonging to Absa that were intercepted at the Beitbridge border post in July, allegedly while being taken out of the country using fraudulent bank documents.

The vehicles were still under finance and have since been returned to Absa.

Carrim, who was added as an accused in the existing cases this week, indicated he wanted to proceed with his bail application on Thursday.

However, logistical challenges, including arrangements relating to his travel, meant the application could not go ahead.

The prosecutor told the court the matter should be postponed to October 30 for a formal bail application.

Carrim’s lawyer argued that the application should proceed, saying his client had a constitutional right to apply for bail at his first court appearance. Despite his initial insistence, the case was postponed.

Carrim remains in custody following his arrest at OR Tambo International Airport in a separate case linked to his failure to appear before the Madlanga commission.