Controversial North West businessman Suliman Carrim will spend another week behind bars after the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court postponed its decision on his bail application to October 28, with the magistrate saying he needed time to review the evidence and court transcripts.

Carrim, who spent the weekend at Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre, returned to court on Monday as the State and his defence team presented their closing arguments in his bid for release.

Magistrate Kiluise postponed the matter for judgment, leaving the businessman in custody while the court considers whether he should be released on bail.

The magistrate expressed concern that Carrim may have tailored his evidence during cross-examination and indicated that he needed to revisit the transcripts to establish whether the accused had contradicted himself.

The postponement means Carrim will remain behind bars for at least another nine days while awaiting the outcome of his bail application.

The State is opposing his release, arguing that his conduct raises concerns about whether he would return to face his criminal case if granted bail.

Carrim faces a charge of contravening the Commissions Act after repeatedly failing to appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, despite being subpoenaed to testify.

His arrest on Thursday evening at OR Tambo International Airport came as he was preparing to board an international flight to Dubai, with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan reportedly among his intended destinations.

The State told the court during his initial appearance that Carrim had a one-way ticket to Dubai and was travelling with five bags. His defence disputed the suggestion that he intended to flee South Africa, maintaining that he had planned to return after travelling abroad.

The State’s concerns about his travel plans became a central issue in the bail proceedings, with prosecutors arguing that he might not have returned to the country had he managed to leave.

Carrim told the court that he was travelling for spiritual upliftment and intended to return to South Africa. His legal representatives also maintained that he had a return ticket.

The dispute over his travel arrangements added to the State’s argument that his release could create a risk of him evading the legal process.

During the proceedings, the State also questioned Carrim about his account of his health and his knowledge of the dates on which he had been required to appear before the commission.

His medical condition featured prominently during the bail hearing, with Carrim having previously cited ill health as the reason for missing scheduled appearances before the inquiry.

The State argued that his responses during cross-examination suggested he was changing his version of events. His defence, however, maintained that the bail hearing was not a trial and that the evidence presented did not justify keeping him in custody.

Advocate Dawie Joubert, representing Carrim during Monday’s proceedings, argued that his client had met the requirements for release on bail.

The defence’s position is that the court should distinguish between the allegations against Carrim and the question of whether he should remain in custody while the criminal case proceeds.

Carrim’s arrest followed the commission’s decision to pursue criminal charges after repeated failures to appear and provide information and documentation requested by the inquiry.

The commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels last week welcomed the arrest, saying the commission hoped it would send a strong message to witnesses who failed to comply with its processes.

Carrim had been expected to answer questions about his dealings with the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality in North West and provide financial records relating to those dealings.

The commission had previously raised concerns about his repeated absences, some of which were attributed to medical reasons. It had also sought an independent medical assessment to establish whether he was fit to testify.

His arrest has brought renewed attention to the commission’s efforts to secure the cooperation of witnesses whose evidence is considered important to its investigations.

For now, the immediate question is whether Carrim will be granted bail or remain in custody as his criminal case continues.

The magistrate is expected to deliver the bail ruling on October 28.