Latest news with #SchabirShaik
News24
4 days ago
- Business
- News24
Judge dismisses bid for acquittal in Zuma, Thales corruption trial
Former president Jacob Zuma is accused of 18 charges of corruption, racketeering, fraud and tax evasion linked to his allegedly corrupt relationship with his former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik. The State's case was declared trial-ready four years ago, but it has been delayed by repeated failed efforts to force the removal of prosecutor Billy Downer. On Tuesday, KwaZulu-Natal High Court Judge Nkosinathi Chili dismissed the summary acquittal applications Zuma and his French arms company co-accused, Thales, had lodged. KwaZulu-Natal High Court Judge Nkosinathi Chili has dismissed the summary acquittal applications of former president Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales in which they cited 'unreasonable' delays in their corruption trial. While Chili said he did not want to apportion blame, the State argued that the delays had largely been caused by Zuma and, to a lesser degree, Thales. In an argument that Zuma threw his weight behind, Thales submitted that the delays had seen former Thales director Pierre Moynot and company boss Alain Thetard – described as pivotal defence witnesses – die. Their deaths, Thales argued, meant it was incapable of receiving a fair trial. On Tuesday, Chili said 'on the facts presented to this court', he was 'not persuaded that it was sufficiently established that Thales will suffer irredeemable, irreparable, or insurmountable prejudice if the State were to allow to continue with the prosecution in the face of the deaths of Messrs Thetard and Moynot'. He added that the trial court 'has a duty to consider all the evidence before it, including the non-availability of defence witnesses before returning a verdict'. 'I'm not persuaded either that Mr Zuma's right to a fair trial will be prejudiced by the non-availability of Mr Thetard and Mr Moynot,' Chili said before dismissing the summary acquittal applications. The case has been postponed to 4 December, when the State will apply for the trial to proceed regardless of any appeals launched by the former president and the arms company.
The Citizen
14-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Has correctional services kept an eye on Schabir Shaik's 'terminal' illness?
The Correctional Services Minister would not reveal the identities of the doctors who diagnosed and approved Schabir Shaik's release. Schabir Shaik outside a shop on 25 July 2012 in Durban. Picture: Gallo Images / Franco Megannon The Department of Correctional Services has revealed extremely limited information about the monitoring of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik's health since his controversial medical parole release in 2009. Minister of Correctional Services Dr. Pieter Groenewald recently responded to questions from the DA's Michele Clarke regarding the oversight of Shaik's medical condition. Details of Schabir Shaik's doctors protected When asked about the medical professionals who diagnosed and approved Shaik's release, Groenewald cited privacy regulations as a barrier to disclosure. 'The names of the doctors should be requested in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia), 04 of 2013,' Groenewald stated. He applied the same privacy restriction to questions about their qualifications and employment positions. While declining to reveal the identities of individual medical professionals, the minister confirmed that the Durban Correctional Supervision and Parole Board approved Shaik's release. Regarding Shaik's specific medical diagnosis, Groenewald emphasised confidentiality requirements. 'In terms of ethical and legal requirements, patient information must be kept confidential, thus ensuring maintenance of professional secrecy,' he stated. ALSO READ: Groenewald confirms foreigners with life sentences were paroled… and deported No ongoing health monitoring required The minister clarified that the department has no obligation to monitor the health of parolees released on medical grounds. 'The department did a medical assessment on the parolee before he was released on medical parole. 'There is no provision by DCS Medical Parole Policy for reassessment of any parolee,' Groenewald explained. He added that Shaik 'was consulting his own medical doctor and psychologist' and that he had complied with his parole conditions, including 'house arrest, office consultation, social work programmes and was monitored as per policy'. The department also does not provide ongoing medical treatment to those released on medical parole. 'Offenders placed on medical parole are provided with referral letters for continuity of care in the community,' added the minister. ALSO READ: Confirmed: How many inmates were granted parole – and how many were sent back to prison Schabir Shaik's controversial release Shaik, who had close ties to former president Jacob Zuma, was convicted of fraud and corruption in 2005 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. His release on medical parole in 2009 came after serving just two years and four months of his sentence, as he was deemed 'terminally ill' at the time. The circumstances surrounding his parole were widely criticised as unlawful, eventually leading to amendments to section 79 of the Correctional Services Act to strengthen the requirements for medical parole. Shaik's sentence officially expired in January 2020, making him a free man. He has since become a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by Zuma. NOW READ: WATCH: Zondo questions Zuma's release from prison on medical parole
