'Dash to Dubai': Carrim arrested at OR Tambo after missing Madlanga Commission hearings
North West businessman Suliman Carrim will remain in custody until Monday after his bail hearing was postponed following his arrest at OR Tambo International Airport.
Suliman Carrim, a former regional treasurer of the ANC and controversial businessman, was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Dubai. The arrest came after Carrim repeatedly failed to appear as a witness before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which investigates criminality, political interference, and corruption within the criminal justice system.
The 49-year-old Carrim was charged with corruption and fraud, and remanded in custody following his first court appearance. Prosecutors say Carrim had a one-way ticket and five bags, indicating he had no intention of returning to South Africa. The commission's evidence leaders discovered that Carrim's movements during the periods he claimed to be bedridden in a medical facility were actually traced to Cape Town, where he visited restaurants and shops.
Carrim's legal team had requested multiple postponements, alleging he was too ill to testify, but his refusal to undergo a voluntary independent medical examination led to the commission opening criminal charges against him on August 19, 2026. Carrim denies all allegations, claiming he believed he was engaging in legitimate business and investments.
The Madlanga Commission welcomed the arrest, stating that it hopes the incident will serve as a strong message to other witnesses who do not take the commission seriously.
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