Publication: Sunday Times Issued: Date: 2007-05-20 Reporter: Subashni Naidoo

Schabir Enjoys Family Visits, Eats Well and Even Gets Massaged in Hospital

 

Publication 

Sunday Times

Date

2007-05-20

Reporter

 Subashni Naidoo

Web Link

www.sundaytimes.co.za

 

Fraudster continues to enjoy special treatment, having spent just 13 days in a prison cell

DURBAN fraudster Schabir Shaik has spent more than a month at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital enjoying the life of a normal patient and flirting with hospital staff.

Shaik was referred to the hospital by Westville Prison 34 days ago after spending two months at the prison’s infirmary and a further 83 days at St Augustine’s private hospital, visits which sparked a national outcry over his five-star treatment.

But even at Inkosi Albert Luthuli ­ a specialist state-of- the-art public hospital ­ Shaik is said to have a free reign: he enjoys a string of visitors beyond his stipulated 36 half hour visits a year as a convicted criminal and often gets a massage from the hospital’s therapy department.

Shaik was sentenced to 15 years in jail in June 2005 after being convicted on charges of corruption and fraud.

Despite a lengthy and expensive process, Shaik eventually lost his appeal last year and surrendered himself at Durban’s Westville prison on November 9.

Of the 186 days that Shaik should have served by today, he has only spent 13 days in Qalakabusha Prison, a youth detention centre in Empangeni where he asked to be transferred.

The rest of his stay has been split between St Augustine’s, Westville Prison’s infirmary and now Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital.

When the Sunday Times visited the hospital several times this week, Shaik was seen looking well and attending therapy in a wheelchair.

He also enjoyed the comfort of a private isolated room in the cardiology department with a correctional services guard posted outside.

At the hospital Shaik enjoys food prescribed by his new doctors, who include physician, Dr Somalingum Ponnusamy ­ a far cry from staple prison diet of porridge and bread for breakfast, and supper in the afternoon that consists of pap, gravy, a slice of bread and juice.

Hospital staff who did not want to be named said Shaik makes his way to the hospital’s prayer room daily between 1pm and 2pm and during that time no healthcare professionals are allowed to attend to him.

Shaik was recommended to Luthuli by his long-time physician Abdul Salim Gaffoor after diagnosing him with uncontrollable hypertension, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol) and depression on April 16.

But the new diagnosis contradicts Shaik’s angiogram results at St Augustine’s which then cleared him of danger.

A Johannesburg-based cardiac specialist said Shaik’s condition was not life threatening.

“With Shaik’s long stay at St Augustine’s hospital , these ailments, including resistant hypertension should have been investigated, managed and stabilised by now, and if they still could not find answers then Shaik should have been referred to a physician with a special interest in hypertension,” he said.

Staffers said Shaik did not appear to be seriously ill and is often seen flirting with young attractive members of staff.

He also enjoys the privilege of visitors outside of the stipulated hospital hours.

Provincial health department spokesman Leon Mbangwa said Shaik was brought to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital because doctors saw fit to deal with his condition there.

“He eats what doctors have recommended according to his ailments and receives appropriate care according to prescriptions.”

He said Shaik was kept in isolation for security reasons away from public glare. He is allowed visitors.

“We encourage his family [to] visit him and believe it is part of the healing process,” he said.

The director of the South African Prisoners’ Organisation for Human Rights, Golden Miles Bhudu, said yesterday that even terminally ill inmates were chained to their beds.

“When you are hospitalised as a prisoner, it is a rule that you remain chained to your bed, but this does not apply with Shaik.”

With acknowledgement to Subashni Naidoo and Sunday Times.