Shaik's parole could be cancelled

2011-03-14 22:37

Durban - Convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik could see himself back behind bars if found guilty of violating his parole conditions, the correctional services department said.

"If found guilty, the parole board will decide whether to amend his parole conditions or to cancel his parole," said department spokesperson Sonwabo Mbananga.

Shaik, formerly Jacob Zuma's financial adviser, was arrested at his Durban home on Monday for failure to comply with parole conditions. He was taken to Westville Prison where he was incarcerated before he was paroled in 2009.

Mbananga said Shaik would be kept in prison for 72 hours.

"We believe that the investigation will be completed before the end of 48 hours and at the end of the investigation, the report will be forwarded to the parole board which will make a decision," he said.

Shaik, whose release on medical parole caused a major outcry in 2009, was taken to the Durban Westville Prison.

"Mr Schabir Shaik has been booked in at the Westville correctional facility. We took a decision last night."

At the weekend, the Sunday Times reported that Shaik hit a man, Mohamed Ismail, outside a mosque in Durban. He had apparently parked the man in, who was trying to get to his daughter in hospital. Shaik reportedly punched the man in an altercation.

The police are already investigating Shaik for allegedly choking and slapping a Sunday Tribune reporter on a golf course about two weeks ago.

Shaik was released on medical parole in March 2009. Opposition parties questioned whether he really was "terminally ill".

In 2005 he was convicted of fraud and corruption and sent to jail for 15 years. The current president, Zuma, at the time was axed as deputy president following Shaik's conviction.

Shaik served only two years and four months of his 15-year term. He was released on medical parole shortly before Zuma became president.

- SAPA