Shrien is not sick - Anni’s father

Caryn Dolley

Murdered honeymoon tourist Anni Dewani’s father believes her widower is feigning illness to avoid court proceedings.

“When you can go to restaurants to have meals, you can’t be sick. Many sources have told me they’ve seen Shrien out in restaurants, which means he can go to court,” Vinod Hindocha said by phone from his home in Sweden yesterday. He did not name the sources.

Shrien Dewani, suspected of having masterminded his wife’s killing, was scheduled to appear in a UK court today for proceedings about his extradition to South Africa. But a few days ago Dewani’s British spin doctor, Max Clifford, said his client was too ill to be present as he was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

Late last night, Justice Department spokesman Tlali Tlali cast doubt on Dewani’s appearance in court today.

“His legal representatives have indicated that they have a medical certificate which indicates that he – Dewani – is not fit to appear in court,” Tlali told Sapa. He said the court should decide whether it was acceptable for Dewani not to attend extradition proceedings because he was unwell.

He said the English court would determine how often the case could be postponed.

“There is nothing available to us to suggest that the delay is not justified,” said Tlali.

Hindocha said he would not attend today’s proceedings.

“I was in the UK the last time when Shrien was supposed to appear (on January 20), but he was apparently sick … I just don’t know about that though,” said Hindocha, who would follow today’s court proceedings from Sweden.

“We’re just hoping we get justice. We just want Shrien to go to South Africa and clear his name,” he said.

Hindocha had not spoken to any member of the Dewani family since December 4, three days before chauffeur Zola Robert Tongo appeared in the Western Cape High Court and in documents said Dewani had offered him R15 000 to help arrange his wife’s murder.

Anni Dewani’s immediate family had been briefed on what was to emerge in court before the proceedings.

Hindocha said he and his family were distressed.

“This is not good. It’s not getting easier. We’re not well at all. Nothing’s normal, to be frank. I can’t explain to you. These are really hard times… I hope no one else gets this type of punishment,” he said, his voice breaking.

Last week one suspected hit man, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, appeared in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court for a bail application during which investigating officer Paul Hendrikse’s affidavit was read out. In it, Hendrikse said Qwabe had confessed to his role in Anni’s November 13 murder in Gugulethu.

He said Qwabe’s confession corroborated details of the murder that emerged during Tongo’s plea and sentencing about two months ago. Tongo had since been sentenced to 18 years in jail. According to court documents, Tongo had recruited Qwabe.

Hindocha said he would be in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on February 25 when Qwabe was expected to hear whether he would be released on bail and when Qwabe would appear with co-accused Xolile Mngeni.

“I will be in court to see the man who pulled the trigger,” Hindocha said.

About eight months before Anni was killed, Hindocha had bought plane tickets to Cape Town for a family holiday. The dates coincided with Qwabe’s and Mngeni’s court appearance.

Last week Clifford said Dewani was ill and had lost 10kg because of stress and grief.

A source close to the investigation last week told the Cape Times Dewani was not against returning to South Africa, but first wanted to know what would happen to him in this country.

caryn.dolley@inl.co.za