Shaik appeal ready to commence
2006-09-25 11:19
Bloemfontein - Masses of documents and trial records were being hauled into Court 1 of the Supreme Court of Appeal on Monday in anticipation of the appeal hearing of Durban businessman Schabir Shaik.
Legal teams for both the state and the defence arrived early. The court building was quiet, and only a few journalists and security staff were present.
Shaik and his entourage had not yet arrived by 08:45, and it was still not known whether the convicted fraudster would attend the first day's proceedings.
Shaik is appealing his June 2005 Durban High Court fraud and corruption conviction.
One of the main tasks of his legal team on Monday would be to convince the court to grant leave to appeal the first corruption conviction, which entails his "generally corrupt relationship" with former deputy president Jacob Zuma.
Security would be tight and before 09:00, the court was swept by the police's dog unit.
Proceedings are expected to start at 09:45.
- SAPA