Desmond Nair pleads not guilty as corruption trial starts

Suspended Pretoria chief magistrate Desmond Nair has pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption.

Nair made the plea when he appeared before the Pretoria specialised commercial crimes court at the start of his trial on Monday.

Nair is facing 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 allegations first emerged before the state capture commission in 2019.

The upgrades included an electric fence, alarm system, perimeter beams and CCTV system. The gratification was allegedly offered and received by Nair for him to act in a dishonest or improper manner in his influential position as an officer of the judiciary.

“The trial commenced with the state leading its evidence in chief through its first witness, who was an employee of a Bosasa subsidiary, providing evidence on the alleged installation of security upgrades at the accused’s home,” Investigating Directorate Against Corruption spokesperson Henry Mamothame said.