Durban – Arrested businessman Thoshan Panday failed to appear in court to face allegations of tax fraud involving millions of rand.
Panday, arrested on 5 September 2024, is accused of 27 counts of fraud related to breaching tax legislation, in which the South African Revenue Services was allegedly prejudiced of R7,3 million.
On Wednesday, (25 September 2024), lawyers for the 52-year-old businessman produced medical certificates in court that indicated that Panday was unwell and had been admitted to a private hospital in Durban.
However, the head of Westville Prison did not inform the court that Panday would not be able to attend his court case.
As a result, the court postponed the case against Panday in his absence, to 4 October 2024.
An inquiry into the accused’s absence in court has been ordered.
Magistrate S Zuma also ordered that the head of the prison and the admitting doctor, where Panday is receiving medical attention, be subpoenaed to account for the accused’s absence from court.
The magistrate also wants to know why there was no prior notice that Panday would not attend his scheduled court appearance.
Following the court’s dismissal of Panday’s bail application on 9 September 2024, the matter had been adjourned to today, (25 September 2024), for it to be transferred to the Durban High Court.
The state requested a warrant to extend Panday’s detention in his absence.
Panday is also on trial in the Durban High Court in another matter for alleged racketeering, fraud, and corruption in connection with an SA Police Service 2010 Soccer World Cup accommodation tender worth R47 million.
