Durban businessman Schabir Shaik arrived at the Durban High Court on Tuesday morning appearing in good spirits as he prepares to seek leave to appeal against his corruption and fraud convictions and a 15-year sentence.
He stopped to shake hands with police outside the court and greeted journalists with the words: ”Hello, everybody.”
Asked how he was, Shaik simply responded: ”Fine.”
He was accompanied by his wife, bodyguards and some of his brothers.
The court convicted Shaik in June on charges arising from a ”generally corrupt relationship” with former deputy president Jacob Zuma.
He was sentenced to 15 years in jail on each of two corruption charges and three years for fraud, but Judge Hillary Squires ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
Zuma was subsequently relieved of his duties, and is to go on trial on related charges in October.
Lawyers could not say how long Shaik’s application for leave to appeal is due to last. — Sapa