Review Yengeni parole - DA

2007-11-26 16:10

Johannesburg - The Democratic Alliance on Monday called for a review of former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni's parole conditions after he was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Superintendent Siphiwo Hewena, station commander at the Goodwood police station, said Yengeni was arrested on Sunday evening along Giel Basson Drive after his black BMW swerved and landed on an island.

Patrolling police noticed the incident and stopped to investigate when they smelt alcohol on his breath.

When asked whether he had been drinking, Yengeni said he had not and that he had taken flu medication.

Police were not convinced. Yengeni was then arrested and taken for blood tests.

He was detained at the Goodwood police station for about four hours and released after being granted R500 bail.

Fraud conviction

Yengeni is still out on parole after his 2003 conviction for defrauding Parliament by failing to disclose a 47% discount on a luxury 4X4 Mercedes-Benz.

He lost an appeal against his four-year sentence, but spent only a few months in Malmesbury Prison from August last year to early January this year.

Conditions include a stipulation that Yengeni may not use liquor or drugs - other than those prescribed by a doctor - until September 23 next year, nor may he visit any place where liquor is consumed.

If there was any suspicion he had been drinking, he would be subjected to a blood test.

Should he refuse to undergo the test, he would be deemed to have violated his correctional supervision.

Parole tightened?

"The DA strongly believes that there is prima facie evidence available which, in and of itself, constitutes a breach of Yengeni's parole," said Correctional Services spokesperson James Selfe.

"His conditions must be reviewed and possibly tightened with the view to ensuring that he complies with the conditions of his parole," he said.

Correctional Services spokesperson Manelisi Wolela on Monday said the person responsible for "managing or supervising" Yengeni would have to "gather information" about the incident which would then go to the Department and to the Parole Board, before a pronouncement could be made on his fate.

He said it was difficult to put a time frame on this process.

- SAPA