Publication: Cape Argus Issued: Date: 2006-12-18 Reporter: Sapa Reporter:

Shaik's Legal Team Fails to Meet Constitutional Court Deadline

 

Publication 

Cape Argus

Date

2006-12-18

Reporter

Sapa

Web Link

www.capeargus.co.za

 

Lawyers for Durban businessman Schabir Shaik yesterday failed to lodge papers with the Constitutional Court appealing his corruption and fraud conviction and sentence.

Hearing radio reports on the possibility of papers being filed, court officials kept the general office open an extra half hour to 4pm.

However, it had received nothing from Shaik's lawyers by the end of the day - not even an indication that they intended filing.

Shaik was convicted on two counts of corruption and one of fraud by Judge Hilary Squires in the Durban High Court in July 2005 and was sentenced to 15 years in jail - a verdict upheld by a full bench of the Supreme Court of Appeal on November 6.

At the end of last month, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it had received a letter from Shaik's legal team giving notice of his intention to challenge the finding in the Constitutional Court.

"I can confirm that we have received a letter, but I can't get into the details of the letter," said NPA spokesman Makhosini Nkosi.

However, nothing was received by the Constitutional Court.

Earlier yesterday, Shaik's lawyer Reeves Parsee, said he hoped to have lodged the appeal with the Constitutional Court by the end of the day.

"We are finalising the documentation and we hope to submit it today," he said. He declined to give any details.

Had the papers been couriered rather than hand-delivered, the court would still be able to receive them only on Monday, at the soonest, an official said as he closed up for the day.

Shaik had 14 days from the overturning of his appeal to lodge a challenge with the Constitutional Court.

Although he missed the deadline, he may still apply for condonation of a late filing.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Argus.