IFP wants review of medical parole
2010-08-11 20:00
Cape Town - The IFP on Wednesday urged Correctional Services Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to urgently consider reviewing the medical parole system.
The move followed the arrest of a criminal allegedly released on parole, as he was found to be a "dying man", Inkatha Freedom Party spokesperson Koos van der Merwe said.
It was clear a loophole in the medical parole system was being abused.
"We need to amend the system to ensure that only those who are actually critically ill are allowed to apply for early release on medical grounds," Van der Merwe said.
Medical parole for prisoners applied only to those pronounced terminally ill by a doctor.
However, on Tuesday a man who had been sentenced to 44 years in prison, but who had served only 18 months of his sentence, was arrested following an armed robbery.
"We need urgent answers from the department of correctional services as to how this criminal was allowed back onto the streets to reoffend after he had been declared a 'dying man'.
"We also need to revisit cases such as the Shabir Shaik case, as he too has apparently made a full and remarkable recovery from his 'terminal illness'."
The parole process had to be reviewed and procedures tightened to prevent prisoners and others abusing the system, Van der Merwe said.
- SAPA