Shaik appeal is all paperwork
2006-04-26 20:00
Bloemfontein - The five judges who will hear Durban businessman Schabir Shaik's appeal in Bloemfontein will have to work through about 12 600 pages of trial record before they can rule on it.
The matter is expected to come before the court in August or September.
The two most-senior judges in the Supreme Court of Appeal - court president Judge Craig Howie and his deputy, Judge Lex Mpati - will form part of a full Bench to hear Shaik's appeal.
The other three are Judge Piet Streicher, Judge Mahomed Navsa, and Judge John Heher.
On Wednesday, the court granted the media access to Shaik's appeal papers filed at the court.
Tens of thousands of pages of court papers have already been handed in.
State papers not yet filed
The appellant's (Shaik and company) appeal application included about 470 pages.
Their heads of argument, about 270 pages with additional documents, were also filed.
The State has not yet filed its heads of argument, due at the court by May 15.
When the matter goes to Bloemfontein, the court will have two tasks.
The first will be Shaik's appeal against his conviction and 15-year sentence on a charge of corruption.
The second is whether he may appeal against a second 15-year sentence for his "generally corrupt" relationship with Zuma.
Neither the trial court nor the High Court has granted leave to appeal against this charge. The Appeal Court asked for oral arguments first.
Shaik is out on R100 000 bail pending the outcome of the appeal.
- SAPA