End of Shaik's High Life [The Mercury, 2006-11-10]

Publication: The Mercury Issued: Date: 2006-11-10 Reporter: Sapa Reporter: Carvin Goldstone Reporter:

End of Shaik's High Life

Publication	The Mercury
Date	2006-11-10
Reporter	Carvin Goldstone, Sapa
Web Link	www.themercury.co.za

out of a bmw and into a police van

Convicted businessman Schabir Shaik has just spent his first night in a cell in the Qalakabusha Correctional Centre, in Empangeni, probably reflecting on bleak years that lie ahead until he can first apply for early parole.

The multimillionaire's high-flying lifestyle came to an end yesterday when he stepped out of his 7-series BMW and got into the back of a police van, which took him to Westville Prison to begin serving his 15-year sentence for fraud and corruption.

However, just hours later, he was reportedly taken to Empangeni, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where he will serve his sentence at Qalakabusha, which means "starting afresh", following the failure of his appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal. Prison officials would not confirm the move, however.

Just how soon Shaik could be let out was also not clear. Correctional Services spokesman Luphumzo Kebeni said: "It could be (after) a half or a third (of the sentence is served)." He said Shaik's case would first need to be reviewed by a "case committee" and the Parole Board, which would only release him if they were satisfied that he had been fully rehabilitated *1.

After being served with a notice to surrender on Tuesday, Shaik handed himself over to authorities at the high court - the very building where Judge Hilary Squires convicted him last July of fraud and corruption. Shaik arrived at the court building in jeans and a white T-shirt, holding his wife Zuleika's hand and accompanied by his brothers Mo and Yunus. Moments after having his fingerprints taken, he spoke to the waiting reporters.

"I wish my family all of the very best, especially my wife and my son," he said. "To all the reporters I have given a hard time, I apologise. My heart is at peace and I am walking in the path of my Lord," he said before being whisked away.

At Westville Prison, photographers and television crews scurried around the police van to get shots of Shaik, but police hurriedly closed the gate. His family arrived at the prison in three black BMWs.

The toll Shaik's trial had taken was evident on the faces of his relatives and the often chatty Mo was curt with journalists. "Did you not get my press release?" he said in reply to a question.

The statement read: "We will continue to explore whatever legal and constitutional options that may exist for Schabir. We will forever believe in Schabir's innocence and the fact that his actions, which were deemed criminal by the courts, were out of love, loyalty and comradeship.

"The trauma of his trial, conviction, appeal process and imprisonment has been exacerbated by the intense media coverage, which, at times, borders on harassment. Now that Schabir has been incarcerated, we appeal to the media to allow us to grieve the tragedy that has befallen our family. We have nothing further to say on this matter and implore the media to let us be."

Now that Shaik is behind bars, the focus has shifted to ex-deputy president Jacob Zuma, who was implicated in Shaik's trial, and whether the National Prosecuting Authority will re-indict him and French arms manufacturing firm Thint.

With acknowledgements to Carvin Goldstone, Sapa and The Mercury.

*1 The only place to start in full rehabilitation is acknowledge of guilt and responsibility therefore.

So far Schabir and his brotherly clan are still denying guilt, especially with regard to Counts 1 and 3, i.e. the corruption charges, basing his conduct on altruism.

Even with Count 1, the general corruption charge, there is the residual possibility of indeed helping a help in need.

But it is impossible that with Count 3, i.e. facilitating the corrupting of the second highest official in the land by a corrupt foreign company to cover up the company's unlawful conduct in the biggest acquisition process the country has ever undertaken, that there can be the slightest possibility of altruism.

Until the Shaiks accept this, Schabir can never be ready for return to normal social or economic life.