Yengeni parole 'is kid gloves'

2007-04-17 19:59

Cape Town - The parole conditions for former African National Congress chief whip Tony Yengeni were "kid gloves", said the Democratic Alliance on Tuesday.

DA spokesperson James Selfe said the conditions, which were released by the department of correctional service to Cape Argus on Tuesday, confirmed that Yengeni was still being treated with "kid gloves".

"...Not only has Tony Yengeni received much-lighter parole conditions than he should have been given, but he also appears to have broken the parole conditions on more than one occasion.

"This all points to the same practice of according Mr Yengeni a lighter punishment for his very serious crimes," he said on Tuesday.

'Done only 12 hours of community service'

Yengeni's parole conditions as published by Cape Argus stipulated that he may not consume any alcohol while under correctional supervision. He is required to do 16 hours of community service a month.

Selfe said: "He was placed on correctional supervision on January 15 2007.

"By February 22, he had done only 12 hours of community service. He was already behind and no action was taken against him.

"Time and time again, the rules are bent to accommodate Mr Yengeni, who has yet to admit that by committing the crimes of fraud and forgery, he did anything wrong."

He said Yengeni's conditions were not consistent with the type of crime of which he was convicted.

"Yengeni should have had 'phase two status' of correctional supervision based on the level of his crimes and his behaviour while in prison.

47% discount on 4x4

"However, according to our information he was given a 'phase four status' of correctional supervision," he said.

Yengeni was convicted in 2003 of defrauding parliament by failing to disclose a 47% discount on a luxurious 4x4 Mercedes-Benz.

He lost an appeal against his four-year sentence, but spent only a few months in Malmesbury Prison from August last year to early January this year.

- SAPA