Schabir Shaik's application for leave to appeal against his conviction and sentence for corruption and fraud was dismissed in the Constitutional Court today.

But the court found that there might be a constitutional issue related to the seizure of assets belonging to him and his company and granted leave to appeal on that point.

Shaik's application to bring new evidence in his case was dismissed and the court ruled that his trial was not unfair.

"An appeal against conviction and sentence does not bear any reasonable prospect of success," the unanimous judgment said.

Shaik was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison on two charges of corruption and one charge of fraud relating to payments he and his companies made to Jacob Zuma.

President Thabo Mbeki relieved Zuma of his role as deputy president after Shaik's conviction.

Shaik had first taken his case to the Supreme Court of Appeal, where he was unsuccessful.

The prosecutor in the High Court case, Anton Steynberg, said after today's ruling that Shaik's only remaining option was to petition the president.

"Obviously we are very pleased with the result in the criminal part of the proceedings," he said.

Fellow prosecutor Billy Downer said: "This is the end of a long road some seven years."

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Cape Argus.