Yengeni's 'kid glove' parole conditions: DA

Tony Yengeni was arrested for drinking and driving

The parole conditions of Tony Yengeni, the former ANC chief whip, were "kid glove," the Democratic Alliance (DA) said.

James Selfe, a DA spokesperson, said the conditions, which were released by the department of correctional service to the Cape Argus today, confirmed that Yengeni was still being treated with "kid gloves".

"... Not only has Tony Yengeni received much lighter parole conditions than he should have been given, but he also appears to have broken the parole conditions on more than one occasion.

"This all points to the same practice of according Mr Yengeni a lighter punishment for his very serious crimes," he said in a statement.

Alcohol band and community service
Yengeni's parole conditions as published by the Cape Argus stipulate that he may not consume any alcohol while under correctional supervision. He is required to do 16 hours of community service a month.

"He was placed on correctional supervision on January 15, 2007. By February 22 he had only done 12 hours of community service. He was already behind and no action was taken against him.

"Time and time again the rules are bent to accommodate Mr Yengeni who has yet to admit that by committing the crimes of fraud and forgery, he did anything wrong," Selfe said.

DA not convinced of parole conditions
Selfe said Yengeni's conditions were not consistent with the type of crime he was convicted of.

"Yengeni should have had 'phase two status' of correctional supervision based on the level of his crimes and his behaviour while in prison. However, according to our information he was given a 'phase four status' of correctional supervision," Selfe said.

Yengeni was convicted in 2003 of defrauding Parliament by failing to disclose a 47 percent discount on a luxurious 4X4 Mercedes-Benz.

He lost an appeal against his four-year sentence, but spent only a few months in Malmesbury Prison from August last year to early January this year. - Sapa