NPA waits to grab Shaik's R30m

2005-11-15 20:13

Johannesburg - It was not immediately clear how the success of Schabir Shaik's latest application for leave to appeal would affect plans to seize R30m of his assets, said the national prosecuting authority on Tuesday.

"I am still to be told by our prosecutors after they have studied that ruling as to how it will affect us, if at all," said spokesperson Makhosini Nkosi on Tuesday.

The Supreme Court of Appeal granted Shaik leave to appeal on a corruption charge relating to his "generally corrupt relationship" with axed deputy president Jacob Zuma, after the Durban High Court had rejected his appeal.

Earlier in the day, The Witness website reported thatthe State would try in January to prove that R30m of the convicted businessman's assets were proceeds of crime.

It said the asset forfeiture hearing was set down on Monday for January 18 to 20 in Durban High Court.

NPA puts figure at R30m

After Shaik was convicted of fraud and two counts of corruption earlier this year, he voluntarily gave the State temporary control of his assets worth R30m, pending the outcome of his leave-to-appeal application.

The NPA is scheduled to go to court in January to formally apply for permanent possession of the assets.

While Shaik disputes the assets are proceeds of crime, the State has estimated that R30m was gained from corrupt dealings relating to the arms deal and to Zuma.

The Durban High Court had granted Shaik leave to challenge a second corruption conviction, and one of fraud to the Supreme Court of Appeal, albeit on limited grounds.

- SAPA