'Shaik appears healthy'
3 March 2010, 07:19
By Nompumelelo Magwaza
A year has passed since convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik was controversially released on medical parole - yet during that time, he has been seen out and about in public a number of times.
Shaik, who has applied for a presidential pardon, has been spotted at some of his favourite spots including restaurants in Florida Road and golf courses in Durban.
Shaik, who was a financial adviser to then vice-president Jacob Zuma, was convicted on two counts of corruption for having a "generally corrupt" relationship with Zuma, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
He was granted parole on medical grounds last March by then correctional services minister Ngconde Balfour. Of his two years and four months in jail, Shaik spent most of his time in and out of hospital.
Contacted by The Mercury yesterday, he said he was not allowed to speak to the media.
Shaik's parole conditions were tightened by correctional services after pictures of him out shopping were published in the media in December.
A woman who works at a supermarket in Florida Road said Shaik came in every Sunday.
"He used to shop on Sundays but he stopped after the press followed him around. But he has started coming again lately and he does not look sick."
Another woman in the shop said Shaik looked well and did not appear to be sick, "unless he is taking really good care of himself".
A year has passed since convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik was controversially released on medical parole - yet during that time, he has been seen out and about in public a number of times.
Shaik, who has applied for a presidential pardon, has been spotted at some of his favourite spots including restaurants in Florida Road and golf courses in Durban.
Shaik, who was a financial adviser to then vice-president Jacob Zuma, was convicted on two counts of corruption for having a "generally corrupt" relationship with Zuma, and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
He was granted parole on medical grounds last March by then correctional services minister Ngconde Balfour. Of his two years and four months in jail, Shaik spent most of his time in and out of hospital.
Contacted by The Mercury yesterday, he said he was not allowed to speak to the media.
Shaik's parole conditions were tightened by correctional services after pictures of him out shopping were published in the media in December.
A woman who works at a supermarket in Florida Road said Shaik came in every Sunday.
"He used to shop on Sundays but he stopped after the press followed him around. But he has started coming again lately and he does not look sick."
Another woman in the shop said Shaik looked well and did not appear to be sick, "unless he is taking really good care of himself".
- This article was originally published in The Mercury on March 03, 2010
Cape Town
