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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| ANC official released from prison | ANC official released from prison |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Former ANC parliamentary whip Tony Yengeni has been freed from prison in South Africa after serving just five months of a four-year fraud conviction. | Former ANC parliamentary whip Tony Yengeni has been freed from prison in South Africa after serving just five months of a four-year fraud conviction. |
| Dozens of local ANC officials welcomed him as he left the jail near Cape Town. As part of his parole, he will remain under virtual house arrest. | Dozens of local ANC officials welcomed him as he left the jail near Cape Town. As part of his parole, he will remain under virtual house arrest. |
| His sentence was cut on appeal and further reduced by a general amnesty. | His sentence was cut on appeal and further reduced by a general amnesty. |
| He resigned after it emerged he received a big discount on a luxury car as part of a controversial arms deal. | He resigned after it emerged he received a big discount on a luxury car as part of a controversial arms deal. |
| "It's a great day for me and my family and for the movement, in that I'm now walking out of the gates of the prison, a place I was not supposed to be in the first place," Yengeni said as he left prison. | "It's a great day for me and my family and for the movement, in that I'm now walking out of the gates of the prison, a place I was not supposed to be in the first place," Yengeni said as he left prison. |
| But some have criticised his early release. | But some have criticised his early release. |
| "The Department of Correctional Service and the ANC have made a complete mockery of his prison term," said opposition Inkatha Freedom Party spokeswoman Sybil Seaton. | "The Department of Correctional Service and the ANC have made a complete mockery of his prison term," said opposition Inkatha Freedom Party spokeswoman Sybil Seaton. |
| "Every rule in the book has been changed or bent, it seems, to accommodate Mr Yengeni." | "Every rule in the book has been changed or bent, it seems, to accommodate Mr Yengeni." |
| Alcohol ban | Alcohol ban |
| The BBC's Mohammed Allie in Cape Town says an animal is to be sacrificed as part of a cleansing ceremony at his parents' house in the Cape Town suburb of Guguletho. | The BBC's Mohammed Allie in Cape Town says an animal is to be sacrificed as part of a cleansing ceremony at his parents' house in the Cape Town suburb of Guguletho. |
| Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and parliamentary speaker Baleka Kgotsile were among a large crowd of party officials who accompanied him to Pollsmoor Prison last August. | Housing Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and parliamentary speaker Baleka Kgotsile were among a large crowd of party officials who accompanied him to Pollsmoor Prison last August. |
| Our correspondent says Yengeni will need permission from the minister of correctional services if he wants to leave his house and will have to perform 16 hours of community service a week for a year. | |
| The flamboyant Yengeni, known for wearing designer suits, is banned from holding public office for five years, but serves on the ANC's ruling body. | The flamboyant Yengeni, known for wearing designer suits, is banned from holding public office for five years, but serves on the ANC's ruling body. |
| He is also banned from consuming alcohol and hosting parties. | He is also banned from consuming alcohol and hosting parties. |
| He was convicted in 2003 after it was found he had received a large discount on the purchase of a Mercedes four-wheel drive vehicle, from a firm bidding for an arms contract. | He was convicted in 2003 after it was found he had received a large discount on the purchase of a Mercedes four-wheel drive vehicle, from a firm bidding for an arms contract. |
| He then initially lied to parliament about receiving this benefit. | He then initially lied to parliament about receiving this benefit. |
| Yengeni was convicted over the same arms deal, for which former Deputy President Jacob Zuma was last year put on trial for corruption. | Yengeni was convicted over the same arms deal, for which former Deputy President Jacob Zuma was last year put on trial for corruption. |
| The trial was stopped but the prosecution said new charges could be laid at a later date. | The trial was stopped but the prosecution said new charges could be laid at a later date. |