‘Humble’ magistrate mourned
ATTORNEY Logan Perumal ran his own practice for years, sat as an acting magistrate, was noted for his culinary skills and has been described by those who knew him as humble, dedicated and passionate.
So, when the 49-year-old Verulam man was found dead in a wash room in the Durban CBD building where he kept office, the shock was deep and widespread.
The body of the father of two was found last week with his throat and wrists slit, apparently with a razor blade found next to his body on the 11th floor of the Commercial City building in Monty Naicker Road (Pine Street).
CCTV footage showed Perumal leaving his office alone on the 12th floor around 1am last Wednesday and walking down the flight of steps to the toilets. He did not emerge. Security guards subsequently found him dead.
“Logan did not display any signs that showed he was troubled by anything. It is very sad,” his practice partner, Krish Naidoo, told POST.
Friends, family and colleagues paid their last respects to Perumal at his funeral at the Mountview Civic Centre in Verulam on Friday.
Magistrate Irfaan Khalil said the tragedy showed that life can be fragile.
“Logan was a humble man. He never moaned and just got on with the job. Logan was dedicated and passionate and did work as a magistrate during the December holiday without remuneration,” said Khalil.
As a magistrate at the Durban Magistrate’s Court, Perumal had handled murder and other matters before being assigned to the drugs court there. Perumal also had stints in courts in Hammarsdale, Verulam and other areas.
Sharlene Govender, the prosecutor in Perumal’s court, said he had always handed down verdicts in the best interests of justice. “I sometimes pondered over his verdicts and subsequently ascertained that I did not have my way because the decisions were made after meticulous analysis.”
Perumal’s mentor, former Durban attorney Vijay Kooblal, who emigrated to Australia several years ago, said he had lost a “dear friend”.
“Logan served his articles at my practice about 27 years ago,” he said. “His humility struck me then and remained a salient characteristic. Logan was a profoundly caring man.
“During his time with me he was also a chef. My staff, family and friends enjoyed many a special meal prepared by Logan. He honed the cooking talent from his father and prepared meals at weddings and other functions.
“Logan’s caring ways and interests in the well-being of others left an indelible mark on many people,” said Kooblal.
At the funeral, chief magistrate Edmund Ngubane handed over a cheque, after staff contributed money, to Perumal’s family.
Perumal’s court robe was also handed over.
Lunga Peter, president of the Kwa-Zulu-Natal Law Society, said the society had received no complaints against Perumal and that there were no pending cases against him.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Thembeka Mbhele said an inquest docket had been opened at the Durban Central police station.
“The deceased had wounds on the throat and wrists,” Mbhele said.