Gupta family associate, Iqbal Sharma, will remain in custody

Former Transnet board member and Gupta family associate, Iqbal Sharma, will remain in custody after the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court turned down his bail application. The state opposed bail citing that Sharma presents an overwhelming flight risk and that he has the means and incentive to flee the country. And that he failed to disclose 265-million rand held in his United Arab Emirates' Issar Global account. Sharma is amongst several accused facing charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering relating to the 24-point- 9 million rand deal paid by the Free State Department of Agriculture for a feasibility study.