Shaik loses appeal

2007-10-02 11:24

Johannesburg - Schabir Shaik's application to appeal his conviction and sentence for corruption and fraud was dismissed in the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.

However, the court ruled that there might be a constitutional issue related to the seizure of assets belonging to him and his company and granted leave to appeal on that point.

Shaik's appeal to bring new evidence was dismissed and the court ruled that his trial was not unfair.

"An appeal against conviction and sentence does not bear any reasonable prospect of success," the court said in a unanimous judgement.

Shaik was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison on two charges of corruption and one charge of fraud relating to payments he and his companies made to Jacob Zuma, who was MEC for Economic Affairs and Tourism in KwaZulu-Natal and later deputy president of South Africa.

President Thabo Mbeki "released" Zuma from his post as deputy president after Shaik's conviction.

Shaik had unsuccessfully appealed to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Prosecutor in the case, Anton Steynberg, said afterwards that Shaik's only option now is to petition the president.

"Obviously we are very pleased with the result in the criminal part of the proceedings.

Billy Downer, also a prosecutor in the case, said: "This is the end of a long road - some seven years."

- SAPA