Durban - Political parties have responded with outrage at convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik’s application for the conversion of his medical parole to ordinary parole.
Spokesman for Justice and Correctional Services, advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, on Monday confirmed the Department of Correctional Services had received correspondence from the Medical Parole Advisory Board (MPAB), in which Shaik requested the conversion.
Mhaga said the department was attending to the matter.
A man who answered Shaik’s phone, identifying himself as his attorney, said they would not comment on the matter.
Shaik, former financial adviser to President Jacob Zuma, was released on medical parole in 2009 after serving only two years and four months of a 15-year jail term for two counts of corruption and one of fraud in 2005.
“The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha, must deny Schabir Shaik’s application to have his medical parole converted to ordinary parole,” the DA said.
“Shaik was granted medical parole in 2009 because he purported that he was terminally ill. Six years on and Shaik shows no signs of deteriorating health but has been reported to have led quite a robust life ever since. By making such a request, Shaik implicitly admits that he is, in fact, not terminally ill,” James Selfe, DA spokesman for Correctional Services, said.
“If his request is granted, it will mean the ANC in government has no regard for holding those close to Zuma accountable by manipulating the criminal justice system to protect members of Zuma Inc.
“Under no circumstances must the minister consider this request. Should Minister Masutha grant Shaik’s request, the DA will seriously consider taking the decision on review,” Selfe said.
Mhaga said the minister was not handling Shaik’s application.
“The department, however, has received correspondence, from the Medical Parole Advisory Board, wherein offender Shaik has requested for his medical parole to be converted to ordinary parole. The department is attending to this matter, and will respond accordingly to the MPAB,” Mhaga said.
Freedom Front Plus correctional services spokesman, Pieter Groenewald, said Shaik’s application was “proof that his medical parole was a farce”.
Thulani Mdluli, deputy director for the regional Correctional Services, said it was unheard of for an offender to apply for conversion of his parole.
“I don’t know of a policy that allows for this to happen,” Mdluli said.
Daily News