Publication: Independent Online Issued: Date: 2006-11-28 Reporter: Mercury Reporters Reporter:

Shaik is Paying Guards in Private Ward

 

Publication 

Independent Online
Date

2006-11-28

Reporter
Mercury Reporters

Web Link

www.iol.co.za

 

Convicted Durban businessman Schabir Shaik is paying the bill for his treatment at St Augustine's Hospital and the cost of the guards deployed to watch over him, the Correctional Services Department said on Monday.

Shaik's transfer to the hospital for "advanced" medical treatment has raised eyebrows, with medical professionals and former prisoners saying that the move was unprecedented.

While it is not unusual for awaiting-trial prisoners to be taken to private hospitals, a doctor at St Augustine's said that he had never heard of a convicted prisoner being treated at his or any other private hospital.

Correctional Services Department spokesperson Manelisi Wolela confirmed that Shaik had been moved to an external hospital and said convicted prisoners could be admitted to private hospitals, but had to pay the bill.

"If an offender wishes to go to a private hospital, they are allowed to but they have to cover all medical costs and the cost of the guards who will (watch over them)," he said.

Wolela would not confirm that Shaik, who was convicted of fraud, was at St Augustine's Hospital.

"He has been moved to an external hospital for a higher level of medical attention. The decision was taken following discussions with his medical doctor," he said.

Judge Nathan Erasmus, the inspecting judge of prisons, said on Monday that he was not surprised that Shaik had been transferred to a private hospital to receive advanced medical attention.

Erasmus recently visited Qalakabusha Correctional Centre in Empangeni, where Shaik was imprisoned, to investigate whether he had been receiving preferential treatment.

Commenting after the visit, Erasmus had said that he was concerned about Shaik's condition.

He said he had not investigated the matter personally, but did not believe there was anything sinister about Shaik's transfer.

"I have not followed up the matter because people are transferred to hospitals on a daily basis with the recommendation of a doctor.

"I have looked at his (Shaik) medical record and indicated that I was concerned, so it doesn't come as a surprise to me that he has been transferred," Erasmus said.

There is still no indication on the nature of Shaik's illness. Nurses at St Augustine's said Shaik was being kept in a surgical ward but there have also been unconfirmed reports that he was in the renal transplant unit.

A doctor said if this was so, it was more likely that he had been placed there because it was quiet.

With acknowledgements to the Mercury Reporters and Independent Online.


All very strange indeed.