Shaik parole won't be reviewed

2009-08-11 22:43

Cape Town - The Department of Correctional Services on Tuesday defended the decision to grant medical parole to convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik, saying there is no basis for a review of the decision.

The department said: "It must be remembered that Mr Shaik was examined by three medical doctors who concurred that he qualified for placement on parole in terms of Section 79 of Correctional Services Act."

In terms of the Act, offenders who were in the final phases of a terminal illness could be placed on parole to die a consolatory death.

The decision of the three medical doctors was also subjected to scrutiny by the Health Professions Council of South Africa, which actually cleared them of any wrong doing, the department said.

Terminal

It was also crucial to note that the Act made no provision for re-incarceration of parolees who might have recovered or not died within a given period of time.

"An audit done by correctional services revealed that basically about 36% of parolees released on medical grounds do not die within 12 months of having been placed on parole following a medical report describing them as in the final phases of a terminal illness.

"This means over 60% of very sick offenders deemed to be on the death bed by medical doctors, had not died immediately after being placed on parole."

It was reported earlier that Shaik was seen driving himself around Durban.

The Democratic Alliance is taking legal advice on whether Shaik's release on medical parole is reviewable.

- SAPA