Rajiv Narandas is not on the run
Convicted killer Rajiv Narandas is not on the run. He is at home with his mother waiting for police to sort out an administrative bungle.
|||Durban - Convicted killer Rajiv Narandas is not on the run.
He is at home with his mother Rosanne, waiting for police to sort out an administrative bungle which has prevented him from being incarcerated at Westville Prison.
Narandas, 29, underwent surgery for a hernia at Life Westville Hospital on Friday, hours after he had lost his Constitutional Court appeal to set aside his conviction and sentence for the murder of Veenand Singh in 2008.
It is believed that Narandas was discharged from hospital on Sunday and has been under his mother’s care at their Westville home.
As Narandas was convicted and sentenced by the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg, within 24 hours of losing his appeal he had to surrender himself to either the registrar or clerk of that court, POST has established.
A magistrate there would then decide at which facility he would be incarcerated.
But that never happened.
A source at the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Correctional Services said the Hawks had been instructed to “get the paperwork in order” so that Narandas could be imprisoned.
Authorities were under pressure after media speculation that Narandas had fled to Argentina to escape his prison sentence, the source said.
“Rajiv was convicted and sentenced in Johannesburg. Under normal circumstances he should be serving his time at a correctional facility there. But it is clear that his family is very influential and managed to get him transferred to Westville Prison, which is close to his home,” said the source.
“However, for this to happen, all the paperwork needs to be in order. This is not the case, therefore authorities at Westville Prison cannot accept him.”
The source said police would have to get the paperwork finalised.
This would entail the investigating officer taking Narandas back to the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court, where a magistrate would have to rule whether he should be incarcerated at Westville Prison or at a facility in Johannesburg.
“A warrant of arrest was issued in Durban on Friday. But this is not a valid document as it was issued in the wrong jurisdiction. It should have been issued in the court where he was convicted and sentenced,” said the source, adding that this could take up to a week to finalise.
Narandas is expected to go to Johannesburg on Thursday under police guard with his attorney and mother.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Correctional Services, Logan Maistry, declined to comment on the Narandas matter.
However, speaking in general, Maistry said that according to the Correctional Services Act and other related legislation, the Department of Correctional Services had the right to decide where an offender would be incarcerated. Various factors were taken into consideration.
“The criteria includes looking into the security of the inmate, the rehabilitation programme as well as the reintegration of the prisoner back into society. Family visits play an important role. We do not want the prisoner to lose family contact as well as other relationships that could affect their reintegration back into society,” said Maistry.
“But having said that, other factors could override that decision and the prisoner could be kept anywhere.”
Veenand’s Singh’s mother, Ishara, said Narandas’ behaviour was “typical” of a criminal.
“Words cannot even express my anger. I am disgusted that he is still not in prison,” she said.
“It is also shocking that every department - police and correctional services - is passing the buck.”
Singh said she was not getting any feedback from the authorities.
“I picked up the phone to find out what is going on but I am not getting any answers. They now want written queries from me.
“Narandas is evidently a criminal and needed to be treated as such.”
Singh said when she got justice after the appeal was turned down she raised both her hands in prayer.
POST contacted Rosanne Narandas at the weekend to request an interview.
She replied via WhatsApp saying: “I think there has been too much said and done at the moment. Let it be for a month or two and then visit Rajiv and do a story on his progress.
“He is determined to prove himself and help others.”
On Tuesday, we asked Narandas if she knew where her son was after repeated claims that he had skipped the country.
She replied: “Sorry, just too much from the press over the last few day. Let things be for now. And, yes I do know where my son is.”
Gauteng provincial spokesman Colonel Noxolo Kweza refused to comment on the matter and referred POST to the Department of Correctional Services.
POST