The office of the Minister of Police has again capitulated in what was a three-pronged legal attack by a Durban businessman, who was harassed and thrown into jail several times because of a ’civil dispute’ he had with racehorse owner Roy Moodley, says a News24 report.

Earlier this year, the Minister conceded liability for the actions of Durban North cluster commander Reuben Govender – allegedly acting at the behest of Moodley – for two of Vinesh Juglall's claims for damages. Last week, when the third incident was to be ventilated in a trial in the KZN High Court (Durban), the matter was again settled with an order that Juglall be paid R500 000 in compensation for all of his claims and that the Minister pay his legal costs.

Juglall sued both the Minister and Govender, but the order taken by consent was only against the Minister.

In his court papers, Juglall said he had been involved in a business deal with Moodley over the proposed R12m sale of a property in Durban's city centre. The deal also involved an option to purchase the shares in the Durban Computer College and DCC Campus Computer FET Institution.

When the deal soured, Moodley summoned Juglall to a meeting at an attorney's office in March 2012, ostensibly to resolve the dispute. But when Juglall arrived there, Moodley was absent and he was arrested by Govender on a charge of fraud, alternatively theft, without a warrant. He was detained at the Phoenix police station until the following morning. He said Govender told him that he would stay behind bars until he settled the matter or paid back the R12m.

He was only released after his attorney brought an urgent application in the High Court.

Full News24 report