Cape Town ­ Of the 341 days of his sentence he has served, Schabir Shaik, convicted fraudster and former financial adviser to African National Congress president Jacob Zuma, has spent 304 days in either a private or state hospital.

Ever since being sent to prison Shaik's incarceration has been a matter of considerable controversy, with suggestions that he was getting preferential treatment by being allowed to serve his sentence in hospital.

He was sentenced to 15 years by Judge Hilary Squires for fraud and corruption.

Replying to a parliamentary question from Democratic Alliance MP James Selfe, Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour yesterday said Shaik was in state-run Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital where he was being treated for cardiac problems *1.

Balfour said: "He has been hospitalised for a total of 304 days; 220 days were spent in the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital and 84 days in the St Augustine Hospital at his own cost."

"He has spent 341 days in prison. The total monetary cost of his hospitalisation is R262 713 *2."

The minister said Shaik received visitors in terms of the correctional services privilege system for offenders, which is monitored by the official guarding him and recorded in the visitor register that is with the official. Visits happened during official hospital visiting hours.

Balfour denied that there were any special privileges for Shaik except those provided in accordance with the privilege system . He said Shaik was being prepared for discharge from hospital.

Asked to comment on Balfour's reply, Selfe said: " While every inmate deserves appropriate medical care, it is also disturbing that the taxpayer has had to spend this amount of money on a single inmate."

With acknowledgements to Wyndham Hartley and Business Day.