Shaik not eligible for parole

2008-09-16 16:05

Cape Town - Convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik's medical condition is not serious enough to render him eligible for parole, MPs heard on Tuesday.

Briefing the National Assembly's Correctional Services Committee , correctional services commissioner Vernie Petersen said that while Shaik's chronic illness was presenting the department with a number of challenges, releasing him early was not an option.

"We do not believe that Shaik is a candidate for medical parole - medical parole is not an option for him," he said.

While he declined to divulge details about Shaik's medical condition to the committee, citing the need for the department to observe the doctor and patient confidentiality principle, Petersen said Shaik's condition did not meet the requirements of medical parole as defined in the legislation.

According to the Correctional Services legislation, medical parole can only be granted to those inmates who are in the final phase of a terminal illness.

KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Nathi Nhleko told the committee that Shaik had been in-and-out of hospital since his incarceration at the Durban Westville prison.

"The fact remains that Shaik has been in hospital for most of his time within our correctional facility," he said.

Shaik, who was currently at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban, had spent almost 12 months in various hospitals at a cost of more than R200 000 to the State.

Durban Westville prison Area Commissioner Zeblon Monama said the department was concerned about Shaik's escalating medical bills which the state had to pay.

He warned MPs that Shaik's medical bills would soon run into millions of rands if his condition did not improve soon.

Committee chairperson Dennis Bloem said MPs were concerned about the stringent requirements of the current legislation on medical parole.

"This is a very important and sensitive issue that we need to address," he said.

The committee was concerned about Shaik's escalating medical costs and was of the view that the money would have been better utilised on other worthy causes.

Bloem said he hoped that the next set of MPs who would be deployed to Parliament after next year's elections would review the parole legislation.

Shaik's family has indicated that they were considering applying for a Presidential Pardon on his half.

This followed the recent Pietermaritzburg High Court's ruling on ANC President Jacob Zuma, invalidating the National Prosecution Authority's charges against him.

- SAPA