Johannesburg - Experts predict that the cost of convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik's hospital stay was nearing R500 000, the Saturday Star reported.

The newspaper reported that leading doctors and pharmacists in Durban estimated that the total cost of his treatments, surgery and medication were almost R300 000. Security companies estimated that his protection costs were nearing R200 000. A private room at St Augustine's Hospital costs R2 300 a day which would take the cost of his 57-day stay to R131 100.

According to the doctors, each of Shaik's medical conditions would only require a week-long stay in hospital and would not warrant 57 days.

"Billions of people around the world live with these conditions every day and take the necessary medication to control them. In my opinion this is a case of a crooked patient and crooked doctors," one cardiologist told the Saturday Star.

Only 15 days after he began serving his 15-year sentence at Westville Prison, Shaik was moved to the hospital section of Qalakabusha Prison in Empangeni. Two weeks later he was admitted to St Augustine's hospital under 24-hour guard.

Shaik was reported to have been treated for depression, high blood pressure and transient ischemic attacks (mini strokes). He was also reported to have undergone an angiogram and maxio-facial surgery to remove abscesses from his gums.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and News24.