Hours to freedom for Yengeni

2008-09-23 14:45

Cape Town - Former ANC chief whip Tony Yengeni's parole ends at midnight on Tuesday, the Department of Correctional Services said.

"It's true that his parole ends today," said spokesperson Ofentse Morwane.

Yengeni would be required to come in to a department office during the day to sign some administrative paperwork, he said.

Once the parole period had expired, Yengeni would be a free man, not subject to any conditions.

Yengeni was found guilty in 2004 of fraud and corruption relating to the multi-billion rand arms deal, but entered jail only in 2006 after an unsuccessful appeal against his four-year sentence.

He was released on parole in January 2007, less than five months into the sentence.

Yengeni has been in the news repeatedly since he was released on parole, with photographs suggesting he was drinking alcohol in contravention of his parole conditions.

He was arrested for alleged drunken driving in the early hours of September 17 last year and is currently awaiting the outcome of representations to the National Prosecuting Authority.

A senior department official said that a conviction on the charge would have no retroactive effect on his parole.

However it would be taken into account in a parole hearing should Yengeni ever be jailed again.

- SAPA