The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had no knowledge of Schabir Shaik’s reported efforts to take his case to the Constitutional Court, a spokesperson said on Monday.
”You’ll have to check with his lawyers, we don’t know anything about it,” said Makhosini Nkosi.
Responding to an unconfirmed report from the South African Broadcasting Corporation that Shaik’s lawyers had notified the NPA about his intention, Nkosi said: ”I don’t know which part of the NPA it came from, but it didn’t come from me.”
Shaik’s lawyer Reeves Parsee earlier refused to confirm or deny the report on the Durban businessman’s bid to have his corruption and fraud convictions overturned.
”We’re still working on it” he told the South African Press Association. He did not elaborate.
By close of business on Monday, the Constitutional Court had not received any notification of a legal challenge by Shaik, a court official said.
The official said no papers had been received, but if the notification was filed on Tuesday it would have to be accompanied by a letter, explaining why it was late.
Shaik’s appeal was overturned on November 6 and he had 14 days from that date to file papers with the court if he intended to challenge the appeal.
Shaik was jailed for 15 years on charges of corruption and fraud.
Earlier on Monday, the Correctional Services Department confirmed that Shaik had been admitted to hospital but would not give details of his condition. – Sapa