Judgment reserved in Thoshan Panday’s bid to have World Cup corruption case dismissed
Durban businessman Thoshan Panday and eight co-accused say prolonged delays in receiving prosecution material have prejudiced their defence. The State disputes this, saying it has been ready for trial and has offered controlled access to sensitive information.
In a recent development, the court has reserved judgment in the case of Durban businessman Thoshan Panday and his co-accused. The matter was heard on Friday in the Durban High Court. Panday is currently facing multiple charges, including racketeering, fraud, corruption, and money laundering. These allegations stem from a rigged police accommodation tender that took place during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Panday's legal team requested that the case be dismissed due to what they deemed as unreasonable delay. They sought judicial intervention to address the situation. The application before the High Court was filed under section 342A of the Criminal Procedure Act. This section empowers the court to investigate delays in criminal proceedings and decide if they have become unreasonable.
Panday was arrested in October 2020, and the case has since remained unresolved as the trial has not yet commenced. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) addressed these concerns, stating that they have been prepared for the case since its inception. Senior State Advocate Talita Louw dismissed allegations that the state was not ready to proceed with the trial.
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