Bloemfontein : The long-awaited fraud and corruption appeal of Durban businessman Schabir Shaik is expected to start in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) here today.

The SCA has set aside five days to hear Shaik's appeal against his Durban High Court conviction last year on charges of fraud and corruption.

Shaik, former financial adviser to former deputy president Jacob Zuma, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment on each of two corruption counts, with an additional three years for fraud.

The sentences were to run concurrently.

At the time, Durban High Court Judge Hilary Squires denied leave to appeal against the conviction on the first corruption charge, which involved a "generally corrupt relationship" with Zuma. However, the SCA said he could argue directly to the court for leave to appeal against the count. Should this succeed, he could proceed to appeal. If not, he would have to go to prison.

Shaik was granted permission to challenge the fraud finding, that he discussed with his auditors the irregular write-off of loans, some made to Zuma.

He was granted leave to ask the SCA whether the trial court had been correct in admitting into evidence, on the other corruption charge, an encrypted fax detailing a meeting at which Shaik allegedly negotiated a R500 000-a-year bribe for Zuma. The bribe, from the then French arms company Thomson-CSF, was said to be in return for Zuma's protection in a probe into South Africa's multi-billion rand arms deal.

Zuma was relieved of his duties as deputy-president following Shaik's conviction and was brought to court on related charges this year. However, his case was struck from the roll in the Pietermaritzburg High Court last week.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Times.