National Coloured Congress (NCC) leader and suspended Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams has questioned why he was arrested instead of being asked to provide a warning statement, saying he does not understand the decision to take him into custody.

Adams made the remarks outside the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Friday after his case was postponed and transferred to the Regional Court for trial on September 11, 2026.

The suspended MP faces charges of fraud and defeating the ends of justice linked to allegations that he interfered with the investigation into the 2017 murder of ANC Youth League leader Sindiso Magaqa.

Adams has maintained that he has cooperated with authorities and questioned the circumstances surrounding his arrest.

“I don’t understand why I was arrested instead of being asked to give a warning statement,” Adams said outside court.

He also indicated that he did not believe Parliament had any reason to intervene in the criminal proceedings against him, arguing that the matter should be dealt with through the courts.

Adams was arrested in May by members of the Political Killings Task Team after police accused him of interfering with the investigation into Magaqa’s murder.

The State alleges that Adams visited Westville Prison in 2024 and 2025 and interviewed two inmates linked to the Magaqa investigation without an official mandate.

According to previous court proceedings, prosecutors have alleged that Adams used his position and access to information to interfere with ongoing investigations. The State also alleged that he recorded interviews with inmates and subsequently shared information from the interviews.

Adams has rejected allegations that he acted improperly.

His arrest followed a warrant issued after police said they had made efforts to locate him and had arranged for him to hand himself over. Adams has previously argued that he was willing to cooperate but wanted clarity on the allegations against him.

He was subsequently granted R10,000 bail by the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court, with conditions including restrictions on communicating with potential prosecution witnesses.

The Magaqa murder investigation has been one of the high-profile matters handled by the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team. Magaqa, a former ANC Youth League secretary-general and Umzimkhulu councillor, was killed in 2017. Adams is accused of interfering with the investigation while it was still active.

The criminal case comes as Adams prepares to return to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where he is expected to give evidence next week.

Adams has told journalists that the extent of alleged irregularities involving the Political Killings Task Team will emerge when he testifies before the commission.

The commission is investigating allegations of corruption, criminality and political interference within the criminal justice system following allegations raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Adams has previously featured prominently in evidence before the commission, particularly in relation to complaints he lodged against senior Crime Intelligence officials.

His allegations and conduct have also come under scrutiny during testimony before the inquiry. Mkhwanazi previously accused Adams of having unauthorised access to classified intelligence information and of abusing his position as a member of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police.

Adams has denied wrongdoing.

With the criminal matter now transferred to the Pinetown Regional Court, he will return to court on September 11 for the trial proceedings, while his political and policing allegations are expected to receive further attention when he appears before the Madlanga Commission next week.