Cape Town - The DA has filed a formal application to be given insight into the Durban-Westville prison board's reasons for releasing convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik on medical parole.

Democratic Alliance MP James Selfe said the party made the application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act, and did so because it believed the parole board had a duty to demonstrate that Shaik did indeed qualify for parole.

"Without necessarily publishing the specific details of his medical condition, or jeopardising confidential information, we believe the parole board can and must demonstrate that Shaik does qualify for medical parole, under the very strict conditions specified in the Correctional Services Act of 1998."

Selfe said there was overwhelming interest in Shaik's case, and a failure to make public the prison authorities' reasons for releasing him would add to suspicion that it was in fact a political favour.

"It will only cement the perception that this decision was politically-motivated, and taken to protect ANC president, Jacob Zuma, given that Shaik had the potential to provide damning testimony when Mr Zuma appears in court later this year *1 to answer charges of fraud and corruption."

Shaik, Zuma's erstwhile financial adviser, was given parole this week after serving 28 months of a 15-year jail term for fraud and corruption linked to the arms deal.

Zuma's trial for corruption linked to the deal has been remanded to August 25. He is expected to file an application for a permanent stay of prosecution. - Sapa

With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Argus.