Publication: Sapa Issued: Johannesburg Date: 2005-11-16 Reporter: Sapa

NPA Mum on Seizure of Shaik Assets

 

Publication 

Sapa
BC-SHAIK-ASSETS

Date

2005-11-16

Issued

Johannesburg

Reporter

 Sapa

 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is refusing to say what will come of its efforts to seize R30 million of the assets of Durban businessman Schabir Shaik now that he has been granted leave to appeal his corruption conviction and sentence.

"The matter is before court," said NPA spokesman Makhosini Nkosi. "I cannot say anything about it."

Prosecutors would let him know its effect, if at all, once they had studied the Supreme Court of Appeal's (SCA) ruling, Nkosi said while waiting for that finding on Tuesday.

The SCA went on to overturn a Durban High Court ruling which refused Shaik leave to appeal the corruption charge relating to his "generally corrupt relationship" with axed deputy president Jacob Zuma.

The Durban High Court had granted Shaik leave to appeal a second corruption conviction and one of fraud, albeit on limited grounds.

The state on Tuesday reportedly announced its intention to try and prove that R30m of Shaik's assets were the proceeds of crime.

The asset forfeiture hearing was set down on Monday for January 18 to 20 in the Durban High Court, according to The Witness website.

Shaik voluntarily gave the State temporary control of his assets pending the outcome of his application for leave to appeal.

While he disputes that they are the proceeds of crime, the state maintains the assets were gained from corrupt dealings relating to the arms deal and to Zuma.

With acknowledgements to Sapa.