Schabir Shaik is back in prison after spending 10 days in Durban's Albert Luthuli Hospital, where he was being treated after suffering a minor stroke on November 10.

His younger brother Yunis confirmed yesterday that Shaik was moved back to Westville Prison on Tuesday after doctors had stabilised his blood pressure. Yunis said that although the full extent of the damage which might have been caused to his organs by the stroke was not yet known, doctors felt he no longer needed hospitalisation, but he would continue getting treatment in prison.

Last week there were fears that Shaik might have suffered serious organ damage, but it now seems this is not the case. He is also going through rehabilitation exercises to help him recover fully from the effects of the stroke, his brother said.

Meanwhile, Shaik has, through his lawyer, Reeves Parsee, appealed to the government to release at least R2,5-million from his money being held under curatorship, to enable his appeal to the Constitutional Court against the state's attempt to confiscate R33-million it says was corruptly earned through his relationship with ANC deputy president and presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma.

Shaik is arguing that unless the state releases some of the money, his final court battle would be severely prejudiced. The hearing has been set down for Wednesday next week.

With acknowledgements to Babington Maravanyika and The Star.