BAIL DENIED FOR MAN WANTED BY UNITED STATE AUTHORITIES
The Umhlali Periodical Court has denied bail to Rahul Jaiswal (40), an Indian national who was arrested in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is wanted by the United States of America (USA) on allegations of conspiracy, drug distribution, money laundering, and importing controlled substances. Jaiswal is married to a South African citizen.
South Africa has received an Extradition Request from the United States government, outlining a series of charges against Jaiswal, which inter alia claim that he is leading an organised criminal group under the guise of JAISWAL DTO (DTO). According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), DTO was allegedly involved in the illegal importation, distribution, and misbranding of prescription drugs, operating from India, and reaching customers in the USA.
During his bail application, Jaiswal highlighted personal circumstances, including his marriage to a South African citizen, financial responsibility towards his family, and information relating to his employment in India. The state argued that Jaiswal’s status as a foreign national, his lack of permitted employment in South Africa, and his ties to the alleged criminal activities posed significant risks and that he was a flight risk.
On 21 November 2023, the court found that Jaiswal had not demonstrated why his release on bail would be in the interest of justice and denied his application. The case returns to court on 26 January 2024 for a pre – inquiry into the Extradition Request hearing. The bail application was successfully opposed by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Deneshree Naicker and Senior State Advocate Naveen Sewparsat.
This legal proceeding highlights the international nature of criminal activities and the cooperation between countries in addressing transnational crimes. The detailed charges and the denial of bail underscore the seriousness of the allegations against Jaiswal, emphasizing the legal complexities involved in extradition cases.
