Malatsi late for prison
2012-11-16 14:25
Johannesburg - Former politician David Malatsi is expected to arrive at Goodwood Prison in Cape Town on Friday to begin serving his five-year jail term, correctional services said.
"We are still waiting... we have been here since 08:30 this morning. We don't know his whereabouts... " Western Cape correctional services spokesperson Simphiwe Xako said.
Malatsi's appeal on corruption charges was dismissed in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday.
Judge Patrick Gamble took less than a minute to read out the appeal judgement, stating only that the "appeal is dismissed and the conviction is confirmed".
The former provincial environment affairs MEC and national deputy social development minister was not present in court when judgement was handed down.
In October 2006, Malatsi was found guilty by the Cape Town Regional Court on charges of corruption after he accepted a R100 000 payment from the developer of the Roodefontein Golf and Country Estate to approve the development, despite clear environmental concerns.
The money was given to him in April 2002 by Count Riccardo Augusto, the owner and developer of the R550m Plettenberg Bay project. He was sentenced in December 2006 to five years in jail and at the same time granted leave to appeal.
He was granted bail pending the outcome of the appeal.
- SAPA
