Shaik's 83 days in clinic over
2007-02-15 23:13
Durban - After 83 days in a private hospital, convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik has been ordered to go back to prison by Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour.
On Thursday, he ordered that Shaik be removed from St Augustine's Hospital and sent to Durban-Westville Prison.
Shaik has been in the hospital since November 24 and is being treated for high blood pressure.
Medical tests by prison authorities followed recent media reports questioning Shaik's stay in hospital.
Shaik's brother, Mo, said: "Our doctors were, of course, not happy on the matter."
He said his brother's transfer to the Westville prison had been done in consultation with the Shaik family and that they had been "forewarned".
Might be genetic
He said there was no opposition to the minister's decision and "we all thought we would need a co-operative agreement".
He said that doctors from Discovery Health and prison doctors had confirmed the findings of the family doctors that Shaik had a "persistent high blood pressure that may be genetic and is drug resistant."
He said the family were concerned about Schabir's health and that nothing in prison should exacerbate his health problems.
"Beyond that he will have to start his adjustment process (to prison).
"If his health should deteriorate then of course we would appeal to the minister."
Balfour said he had made the decision after viewing the reports of two private practitioners and a third medical report by a doctor of the department.
Medical-aid scheme Discovery Health also was investigating claims made by Shaik for his stay in the hospital.
Balfour said Shaik was being sent to the Westville prison as it was close to St Augustine's Hospital and to Shaik's doctors and family.
"The step we have taken is in the best interest of both the offender and the department," he said.
Shaik's doctors would be granted access to him at any time to monitor his condition.
The department's own doctor and nurses would also be available to Shaik, said Balfour.
"I have also instructed the management of Durban-Westville to ensure that appropriate medical treatment is provided to him, as we do to all other offenders of a similar state of health and similar conditions."
Conditions remain the same
Balfour said if any medication cost more than the department could afford, Shaik's family and his private doctors would have to have to get that medication at their own expense, as the department's regulations prescribed.
He said all conditions applicable to Shaik's classification when he was at Qalakabusha prison would remain applicable when he returned to Westville prison.
Shaik was convicted of fraud and two counts of corruption by Judge Hilary Squires in July 2005.
In November last year, the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the Squires judgment and Shaik was sent to prison on November 9, to begin his 15-year sentence.
- SAPA