Lamola acts on ‘tainted’ chief magistrate

Nair suspended pending probe

Minister of justice Ronald Lamola has tabled a report in parliament to provisionally suspend Pretoria chief magistrate Desmond Nair following two charges of misconduct.

The report was tabled in terms of 13(3)(b) of the Magistrates Act‚ pending the outcome of an investigation into Nair’s fitness to hold office as a magistrate.

According to Bosasa employee Richard le Roux in his testimony at the Zondo commission of inquiry last year, Nair allegedly had R200‚000 worth of security installed by the company at his Pretoria home‚ including an electric fence‚ CCTV and alarm systems.

“Given the seriousness of the allegations‚ as well as the importance of the image of our judicial officers‚ our courts and the rule of law‚ I have decided to provisionally suspend Mr Nair with immediate effect‚ pending the outcome of the investigation‚” said Lamola.

The department said Nair was charged with two counts of misconduct following a preliminary investigation and a report by the magistrate’s commission in November.

“The misconduct charges relate to allegations that Mr Nair allegedly asked for or accepted/received special favours or benefits from Bosasa which may unduly influence him in the execution of his judicial duties or which may create the impression or perception as being intended to influence him in the performance of such duties‚” said the spokesperson for the ministry of justice Chrispin Phiri.