Malachy denied being part of the conspiracy to import drugs, saying he came to Singapore to look for a second-hand car for use in South Africa. He stated that he was in the garment wholesale business; he did not have any business cards on him at the time of his arrest. He carried a South African passport, but officials believed he was Nigerian. Malachy was subsequently classified as stateless by officials. Later, the Department of Foreign Affairs of South Africa officially denied Malachy's South African citizenship.