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'No complaints' about Shaik
22/01/2007 20:42 - (SA)
Durban - The judicial inspectorate of prisons had not received any complaints by Monday afternoon of preferential treatment for convicted businessman Schabir Shaik, said its head, Judge Nathan Erasmus.
"I have not received any official complaints. I cannot be led by speculation by the media," he said on Monday afternoon.
Erasmus said that if anyone was unhappy with the way Shaik was being treated, they had the right to lodge a complaint with the inspectorate.
However, to date, this had not been done.
Shaik was convicted in July 2005 by Judge Hilary Squires in Durban High Court on two counts of corruption and one count of fraud.
Medical bill of R500 000
The Supreme Court of Appeal last year upheld Judge Squires' judgment and Shaik reported to Durban's Westville Prison on November 9.
He was transferred to Empangeni's Qalakabusha Prison on the same day and on November 24 he was admitted to St Augustine's Hospital's renal transplant unit in Durban.
Speculation has been rife that Shaik has received preferential treatment.
At the weekend KwaZulu-Natal media reported that he had clocked up a medical bill of close to R500 000.
Another report said that Erasmus was launching a special probe into Shaik's stay at St Augustine's Hospital.
On Monday, Judge Erasmus denied that any probe was underway.
He said Shaik had been continuously monitored since he arrived at the hospital and he expected to receive the latest medical reports on Shaik on Tuesday.
Shaik apparently has from unstable blood pressure and hypertension.
His family have said that he had a mild stroke shortly after being admitted to St Augustine's.
Judge Erasmus said he "made it very clear" at a November press briefing that Shaik's condition would be monitored.
Initially, Shaik had been transferred to the prison in Empangeni because there was better capacity to observe the former financial adviser and confidant of former deputy president Jacob Zuma.
'Overstayed his welcome'
Golden Miles Bhudu, president of the South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights, said his organisation had not filed an official complaint about Shaik's treatment, but would do so soon.
"But, we do not expect a response. We say publicly that he has overstayed his welcome at St Augustine's," he said.
- SAPA
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