Durban: The trial of Durban businessman Schabir Shaik was temporarily halted after he fell ill. Shaik, who according to a certificate issued by a specialist physician, is suffering of high blood pressure, chest pains and a respiratory infection, did not return to court after lunch yesterday.

He attended the first session of the court yesterday morning. Just before the lunch adjournment his brother, Yunis, alerted Shaik's counsel Francois van Zyl SC that he was not feeling well. Shaik then left the court.

Only Van Zyl and Shaik's attorney Reeves Parsee came back after lunch. Van Zyl told the court that his client had consulted with a specialist physician who has advised him to stay in bed until his blood pressure had stabilised.

He said that he and the leader of the prosecution Billy Downer SC had discussed the possibility of carrying on with legal argument in Shaik's absence, but Judge Hilary Squires said it would not be advisable.

Downer finalised his reasons why the court should allow a controversial encrypted fax as evidence against Shaik.

The state alleges that the fax is documentary proof that there was a bribe agreement between Shaik, Deputy President Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thomson boss Alain Thetard.

Shaik said he has never seen the fax.

Before proceedings were halted yesterday, Downer dealt with the legality of Scorpions searches of premises in Mauritius and France.

It is expected that his colleague advocate Anton Steynberg, would argue next motivating the state's request for a statement made by Malaysian businessman David Wilson.

Wilson had initially helped the Scorpions in their investigation of what has been alleged to be a "generally corrupt" relationship between Shaik and Zuma. After being advised to do so by his former employer Renong, Wilson, however, now refuses to come to South Africa and give evidence.

The state wishes to hand in his statement under a law that allows certain exceptions to be made for foreign witnesses who cannot be compelled by South African authorities to give evidence.

The case has provisionally been adjourned until this morning to monitor Shaik's state of health.

With acknowledgements to Estelle Ellis and the Cape Times.