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Shady shrink saved Shaik

SAM SOLE, STEFAANS BRUMMER AND ILHAM RAWOOT - Mar 05 2010 07:19

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The psychiatrist who was key to Schabir Shaik's release on medical parole has emerged as a man apparently willing to throw ethics aside for money or sex.

A final journey

Dr Abubaker "Abie" Gangat was the lead doctor pushing for Shaik's release on medical grounds and was the only medic who testified before the parole board that approved his discharge on March 3 last year.

The Mail & Guardian has established that Gangat treated prisoner Shaik both as a private doctor and as a "visiting psychiatrist" appointed by prison authorities to service patients from Westville prison.

This would have lent official weight to his submissions to Correctional Services and the parole board calling for Shaik's release on medical grounds.

Now an M&G investigation has revealed past details that may throw new light on the credibility of the man who helped Shaik escape from doing prison time.

Responding to detailed questions from the M&G, Gangat has denied acting unethically -- now or in the past -- and said his history was "unrelated" to his care of his patients, including Shaik.

But evidence collected by the M&G suggests that in the early 1990s -- during his tenure as professor of psychiatry at the Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa) outside Pretoria -- Gangat was involved in a number of scandals that reflect poorly on his integrity.

They include:

His peripheral involvement in a murder and fraud investigation;

His inappropriate affair with a young doctor who later overdosed; it seems his fear of exposure of his affair may have delayed her treatment; and
His penchant for soliciting cash donations from pharmaceutical companies.

CONTINUES BELOW

The murder case
It has emerged that Gangat was close to Dr Omar Sabadia, the Pretoria psychiatrist who arranged to have his wife, Zahida, murdered in February 1996 by staging a fake hijacking. Gangat has confirmed he "knew Dr Sabadia socially".

Sabadia claimed hijackers had stabbed him and abducted Zahida, but it later emerged that his wounds were superficial and that he had hired the killers. He is serving a 50-year jail term.

Two sources involved in the investigation have claimed that Gangat played a role in having Sabadia admitted to or sedated in hospital despite his insignificant injuries, thus shielding him from questioning in the crucial period following Zahida's disappearance.

Gangat failed to respond directly, stating only: "Dr Sabadia was never my patient ... Although I visited him in hospital I did not examine him and could not express a medical opinion about the extent of his injuries."

A Star newspaper report at the time stated that police wished to interview Gangat, but that he had left the country the day before Sabadia confessed and led investigators to his wife's body.

Gangat told the M&G he had travelled to Pakistan in March 1996 to attend the Cricket World Cup and a medical congress: "This trip was planned well in advance and in no way related to the investigation against Dr Sabadia."

The report also linked Gangat to a parallel fraud investigation being carried out into Sabadia's practice. Sabadia was accused of submitting fraudulent medical aid claims. The report described Gangat as a partner in the Sabadia practice.

Gangat has told the M&G he was "most certainly never" a partner in Sabadia's practice but, "from time to time and at irregular intervals", acted as a locum.

He said he had no insight into Sabadia's financial affairs and was not involved in claims the practice submitted to medical aids.

However, the M&G has a copy of a draft letter dated December 13 1994 that includes Gangat's name on the Sabadia practice letterhead. The draft, apparently annotated by Gangat, makes a stout defence of the practice in response to a fax from a medical aid accusing the practice of "over-servicing".

The suicide
Evidence obtained by the M&G has raised disturbing questions about Gangat's relationship with a young and psychologically fragile doctor on his staff and the role he played in events surrounding her suicide.

During the affair it appears Dr Veronika Cernochova was effectively a student, employee and patient of Gangat, a married man.

Gangat told the M&G his personal relationship with Cernochova was a "private matter". He said Cernochova was "never my patient" and for that reason "my interaction with Dr Cernochova cannot constitute unethical or unprofessional conduct".

The Pharma cash cows
Information obtained by the M&G suggests that Gangat, while working at Medunsa, adopted a pattern of soliciting payments from drug companies to attend conferences or to fund his proposed book on psychosis. These requests Gangat combined asking companies for a "generous donation" with an emphasis on the fact that he promoted their products.

For instance, on June 19 1991 Gangat wrote to the manager of Sandoz, requesting funding to attend a conference in Hamburg in September 1991 on suicide prevention. He noted the cost would be R14 000 and stated: "It is my intention to publicly acknowledge any sponsorship that I receive. I wish to add that I prescribe your products Bellergal, Leponex, Melleril and Etomine, which I have found not only beneficial for selected patients but also safe and devoid of any serious side effects."

With regard to his self-published book, Psychosis and Its Management, Gangat issued multiple solicitations. For example on March 17 1992 he wrote to Mr P Zwemstra of Smith Kline Beecham, enclosing chapters of his draft and stating: "You will note that your product Strelazine features prominently. Further, I strongly recommend your product, very often as first-line treatment."

He asked for R5 000 to R10 000 to enable him to publish the book. Letters on similar lines, suitably amended, were sent out to a raft of other drug companies.

In one case, brought to the attention of the M&G by a former colleague who did not want to be named, Gangat is alleged to have tried to secure funding from multiple companies for the same conference, although one company had already agreed to cover his costs.

In 1994 Steve Maritz, then a pharmaceutical marketing manager, withdrew funding to Gangat after initially agreeing to sponsor all costs of the trip. Maritz discovered Gangat had written to numerous other drug companies, requesting funding for the same expenses.

Maritz, now retired, confirmed the essential facts of the allegation. It is alleged that in one case Gangat had asked for a cheque to be made out to him personally "to avoid it going through all those committees".

Gangat told the M&G that requests for funding were made "in accordance with acceptable practice at the time".

"I most certainly was never censured by the Health Professions Council or for that matter by the university."

How Gangat helped Shaik
Dr Abubaker Gangat was brought in to treat Schabir Shaik for stress and depression when he was transferred from prison to St Augustine's private hospital in November 2006 because of persistent high blood pressure.

On February 7 2007 Gangat wrote to Correctional Services to advise that Shaik's stay in St Augustine's should be extended because Shaik posed "a severe suicide risk". He said Shaik had told him: "I believe that I would be better off dead than alive."

That letter was leaked to the media, dampening public criticism of Shaik's lengthy hospital stay.

In May 2008 Gangat submitted a medical dossier to Sarel Marais, the medical manager of Westville prison -- and the man who had appointed him as "visiting psychiatrist" for prison patients. Shaik was at that time being treated at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital and Gangat again advised that he should "continue to be managed in a tertiary institution", claiming the prison's high-care unit could not provide emergency care. Gangat's covering letter emphasised Shaik's "deteriorating medical condition" and summarised the specialist medical reports that were attached, with at least one notable exaggeration.

Gangat claimed Shaik's high blood pressure had already damaged his kidneys, when the clinical evidence disclosed no such thing, but rather "minimal narrowing" of the renal artery that was "not significant" and kidney function that was normal. He suggested Shaik be released on medical grounds and do "community service".

Gangat's dossier formed an important part of the material considered for Shaik's medical parole -- granted only to prisoners in the final stages of a terminal illness -- and the psychiatrist was the only doctor to give formal evidence to the parole board that approved his release in March 2009.

Gangat told the M&G: "I generally do not hesitate to act and support all of my patients, regardless of creed or colour, to the best of my ability and in what I believe to be their best interests."

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Comments

It seems that president ZUMA really have very ‘NICE’ friends….
From corruption to blood on their hands ….
Can only “IMAGINE” the level of ‘CRIME’ in the government…

ALL BY SMILING TO US!!!!

Sipho Hu on March 5, 2010, 7:45 am

So many allegations. So many glib denials. Lots of smoke....no fires?

Pearson B on March 5, 2010, 7:59 am

I think this story has been well played already. There is nobody with any real brain in SA that does not think it was a corrupt deal of some sorts. This is how things work. You will find that the psyco did not have an option. Shabby and Mo had too much on him so he just signed and hoped for the best.

Paul Volker on March 5, 2010, 8:12 am

Crime at it's best, murder, fraud, sex, lies, naive, corruption and etc... Shame.

Tinyiko Mapengo on March 5, 2010, 8:15 am

Dr Gomgat has blatantly overstepped the line of ethical conduct, required of doctors.

As a matter of fact he should have been removed from the roll long time ago.

White Mamba on March 5, 2010, 8:31 am

How fair was it that the man convicted of corrupting JZ was serving a prison sentence, whilst JZ was serving his term as prsident of the highest office in RSA?

Nkateko Tshabalala on March 5, 2010, 8:53 am

Shaik is his own worst enemy. If he had simply done his time in jail, got a cushy job somewhere in jail, if he had now been let out for good behaviour or whatever, no one would have bothered, as he'd done some of his time without complaint. Now, he will be continually hounded and will drag those unethical people down with him.

Well done to some good and smart journalism. Long live the free press.

Chilli Peppa on March 5, 2010, 8:58 am

Who’s surprised? Better than a bad novel.

Lawrence on March 5, 2010, 9:04 am

What a pity that Correctional services relys on one doctors opinion. I still do not understand how he mamnaged to get the board to agree that Shabby Shake was on deaths bed. I think the last quote says it all “I generally do not hesitate to act and support all of my patients, regardless of creed or colour, to the best of my ability and in what I believe to be their best interests.” Maybe a lie is considered help,and not defeating the ends of justice.

Hugh Robinson on March 5, 2010, 9:27 am

Has all the ingredients of a great movie ...

Suzi Budd on March 5, 2010, 9:35 am

Well writen Sam, Stephaans and Ilman. I await the next episode with interest. Surely this makes '24 hours' read like a fairy tale!

Peter Venter on March 5, 2010, 9:39 am

The HPCSA gave a green light on Shaik medical report. we don't know now who to believe, the professionals in the field or the news paper guys.

I have a problem with the sensationalisation of the stroy using poor Gangat previous background to unfairly judge his professional conduct on Shaik's medical parole. The professionals in the field have cleared any doubt on the report.

If ones' previous background is the good measure of future conduct as the article purports to suggest, I therefore propose we push all those who supported, benefited and defended apartheid to the sea as they are all evil.

I'm not against press freedom to invistigate and report, but sensationaling stories is disgusting.

Lucky Dladla on March 5, 2010, 9:40 am

Durban certainly needs a 8.8 magnitude cracker to clear up the crap. SA would be a better place.

Mao Brac on March 5, 2010, 9:42 am

Send the details to the Health Professions Council's medical and dental board....

Bet you nothing will happen!!!

Malcolm de Roubaix on March 5, 2010, 9:44 am

Many people are being protected here but for what only Hitler knows. Shaik wont go back to prison, this issue will round and round with hope that people stop talking about it and this is the same issue that will expose the corruption of some officials. This is where i agree that corruption exists.

Ted on March 5, 2010, 9:56 am

Booooooorrrriiiinnngggggg

My Two cents on March 5, 2010, 10:34 am

Three journo's worked on this shoddy piece of 'investigative' journalism. Lost of research, but nothing but hearsay and innuendo's. There are no facts, but blatant attempts at facts Three journo's worked on this shoddy piece of 'investigative' journalism. Lots of research, but nothing but hearsay and innuendo's. There are no facts, but blatant attempts at facts, or skewring thereof, by these journo's. Also, if these were tangible at all, have these journo's reported their findings to the relevant authorities ? There was a commission of enquiry into this (release), and the relevant doctors were found to have acted without favour or prejudice. This case is closed. Of course, the media still needs to sell its tabloids, and will hence sell Rome to the Romans.
Tsk ! Tsk !

The Moxster on March 5, 2010, 10:41 am

Apologies for the ditto's ....

The Moxster on March 5, 2010, 10:44 am

you mean like making stuff up and attributing it to others eh moxster? you'd never stoop so low eh?
ian 'sacp' mcintosh...

Ian mcintosh on March 5, 2010, 11:05 am

:-)

The Moxster on March 5, 2010, 11:06 am

Forget about William Shakespeare, South Africa (and its politics) has more dodgy dealings, greed, backstabbing, power grabs and political intrigues than Shakespeare could ever had imagined.

Jason Kay on March 5, 2010, 11:07 am

So glad you've finally noticed there is such a thing as a dodgy doctor. And that one thing they do is fake diagnosis so that criminal patients can claim medical problems to get themselves a cushy number, a lighter sentences, not guilty by insanity or transferred to a mental hospital rather than a prison.

Alisdair Budd on March 5, 2010, 11:07 am

tv soap operas, the electorate doesn't care. They want spears and sticks and unopposed chiefs and kings, no matter their bling. And if they get away with it, better than the Mexican Drug Lords of lore.

David Hurst on March 5, 2010, 11:15 am

The Moxster: I read tons and tons of facts in the report, but then you come along and smugly assert that it is a shoddy piece of journalism and that there are "no facts". Since you cannot argue against facts, you simply choose to deny their existence.

Your resulting propagandistic rhetoric may impress ignorant and undiscriminating rabble who vote ANC. It makes no impact on discriminating M&G readers. I suspect that you know that.

Having defended your ANC masters on this blog site, you may now report back to them and receive payment for having done a job to the best of your ability under difficult circumstances.

chico chico on March 5, 2010, 11:34 am

Moxster: What I find funny, is how people attack the journalists reporting on corruption and ANC members. 'Unsubstantiated' etc.

The funny part, is when Malema opens his mouth, and mentions 'Dark forces' and 'lists', and 'forged signatures', you back away from the 'unsubstantiated' claims and believe it as Gospel.

I guess we all have double standards then.

Sinudeity @gmail.com on March 5, 2010, 11:43 am

Shaik has a terminal condition. But it seems that death doesn't want him.

Com Entary on March 5, 2010, 11:46 am

Sinu, one would call that a two-way street.
ie. The generally prejudiced SA media cannot expect to attack and then cry wolf when it is being shown the proverbial middle finger. The M&G, for example, which once was a principled vessel, has sunk to unimaginable depths at the worst of times (eg. Mandy Rossouw and the now departed Ferial Haffajee).

The Moxster on March 5, 2010, 11:57 am

Let's look at it this way: Jacob and Shabir were long term buddies who had a corrupt relationship. Shabir took the fall, whilst the pertinent judiciary was "got at" leaving Jacob free to become president, who then apponted Mo as the new Spyboss.

With this heady mixture of nepotism,favouritism and corruption fermenting away, Shabir Sheik had more chances of falling pregnant than serving his full prison term like any other criminal.

I'm convinced the promises and assurances of premature freedom were given to Shabir long before he even went to jail.

Ron King on March 5, 2010, 12:05 pm

Moxster: 'One would call that a two-way street' - Agreed.

I just wonder, out of the attacks, from the media's side, and from the governments side, percentage-wise, how many of the stories are true?

Why isnt there more legal action being taken, from both sides, to prove truth? Or, is everyone too scared of the many truths that will be unearthed?

Theres only been two noticeable cases being taken to the ombudsman the past while, regarding mediocre issues. Everyone is threatening to sue everyone, but no one does. Unfortunately, proving truths and facts, comes with the legal costs.

Mandy Rossouw and Ferial Haffajee? What was this about? For interests sake.

Sinudeity @gmail.com on March 5, 2010, 12:06 pm

@Malcolm de Roubaix

Obviously nothing will happen here because there is nothing to happen. There is no meat on the bone.

Just another conspiracy cooked up by the M&G just to mock our intelligence and sell their papers. Poor, poor, poor reporting. Well it’s clear that the whole Malema saga is over now I wonder who are they going to prey on now

Xolani Sibisi on March 5, 2010, 12:09 pm

Sinu, Jonathan Shapiro has several pending suits against him at the moment. Robert Gumede also took the M&G to task about its allegation against him, in which he succeeded. City Press is taking Julius to task on his allegations that its journo forged his (Malema's) signature. Zille has berated Pierre De Vos, short of suing, for his scathing attack on her alleged hypocrisy, in the media. The press ombudsman is inundated with complaints from all spectrums. As for percentages, I cannot say at the moment, but the 'two-way' street is there ...
As for Ms's Rossouw and Haffajee, nevermind ...

The Moxster on March 5, 2010, 12:22 pm

Moxster: But those cases just involve personalities, and their ego's.

No real issues that improve South Africa, like corruptions, arms deals, conflicts of interests, misuse of state resources...

Nobody wants to fight for the real truths. Because in South Africa, politicians can be accused of any crime, but nothing is done about it. We simply make noise about it, until the next big issue.

Sinudeity @gmail.com on March 5, 2010, 12:30 pm

Sinu, we make noises using a simple tool, and that is called an 'X'.

The Moxster on March 5, 2010, 12:32 pm

Pointless article indeed! If this doctor is guilty send him straight to the police! This Shaik story is getting tired. Shaik's crime was just to be friends with Zuma. How can a man be sentenced 15 yrs for this? Did he kill anyone? This is undoubtedly a political case. I wish JZ move quickly to pardon Shaik, the guy was just making money, what’s wrong with that?

Freedom Ndlovu on March 5, 2010, 12:33 pm

Moxster: Democracy FTW!

But we vote for parties, not personalities. Is that why so many MP's are convicted criminals?

Sinudeity @gmail.com on March 5, 2010, 12:45 pm

Moxster, you again?
Anyhow, the list of scumbags is truly astounding; all heroes of the masses, like you Mox.

George S on March 5, 2010, 12:53 pm

Sinu, 'FTW' ?
(Sorry, bit of a hangover today, still recovering from one too many Chivas Regals from Monday's birthday bash).

The Moxster on March 5, 2010, 1:05 pm

@ The Moxster, theoretically the X factor is nice and democratic and gave us all warm and fuzzy feelings in 1994. Unfortunately a very high percentage of the proletariat vote blindly and slavishly with absolutely no forethought given to potential future outcomes.

Zimbabwe is a prime example of the masses relentlessly voting in criminals, election after election, and when the chickens eventually come home to roost, either hightail it out of the country or resort to the begging bowl.

The worshipping and envy in the townships, of criminal bling is another inexplicable but parallel phenomenon. Hence people will always get the leaders and governments they deserve.

Ron King on March 5, 2010, 1:25 pm

This article is somehow very disturbing. I failed to get the link between this psychiatrist who has no criminal past at all and his error of Judgement in recommending Shaik for parole. Having a girlfriend who is an adult when one is married is immoral but not criminal. Having a friend who somehow hired people to kill his wife is keeping bad company but not criminal. I think the M&G has definitely defamed an innocent psychiatrist. Yes he made an erroneous recommendation but he is not responsible for the eventual granting of parole. The parole board are ultimately responsible for the parole of a not so terminally ill Shaik and not Dr Gangat. I love the M7G but I think it stooped to a level of the British tabloits only to fail to prove anything. Dr Gangat deserves a sincere apology from the M&G.

Thabisa Sibanda on March 5, 2010, 1:45 pm

@Moxster:
The funny thing about these accusations from ANC supporters about the M&G being biased/incompetent is that we've heard it all before. Do you remember how the ANC and Mbeki lambasted the M&G as being racist and being one of the "some among us" with an anti-black agenda? This was in response to the articles about how Mbeki was centralising power, was running a paranoid administration obsessed with "shadowy forces", was eliminating dissenters and was blocking treatment for HIV positive people.

Then Polokwane happens and the ANC kicks out Mbeki for exactly these same reasons! Did the ANC ever turn round to the M&G and say "you know what, you guys were 100% right about Mbeki and his ANC"? No way! Now again the M&G is reporting on corruption in many high places, a president who clearly lacks the moral authority to lead and represent our country and the take over of the ANC by the tenderpreneurs... and again the ANC labels the M&G racist, blah blah...

All of us who were part of the ANC and supported the movement of Sisulu, Kathrada, Slovo and Hani hope that the real ANC will emerge from the current mess. And no doubt this real ANC will agree with the M&G perspective that the current ANC is a disgrace to the memory of those great leaders and the thousands of unsung heros who sacrificed so much for our freedom.

And Moxster, what will you being saying then? Will you still be 100% Zulu Boy or will you claim that you never supported these ANC tenderpreneurs?

To defend the current ANC is to spit in the face of Sisulu, Tambo and Luthuli.

Dave Martin on March 5, 2010, 1:53 pm

@Nkateko

"How fair was it that the man convicted of corrupting JZ was serving a prison sentence, whilst JZ was serving his term as prsident of the highest office in RSA?"

Of course its GROSSLY unfair. BOTH should have jailed and BOTH shoudl still be there.

Alan Watkins on March 5, 2010, 2:10 pm

To all you people defending the SS saga. You really are depressing. SS was a theiving crook who stole from the country. He managed to squirm out of jail on grounds that are clearly corrupt. He was suppossed to be dead on deaths door and a few months later he is palying golf. Moxter el al who are now making light of this I'm sorry please wake up.

This is corruption at the highest level and all you can do is play the race card and scream about COPE and the DA. Your attitude is precisely why all goverments in Africa end up serving the few and the masses go hungry. No accountability.

Soutie Biltong on March 5, 2010, 2:24 pm

Thabisa Sibanda- you say " innocent psychiatrist"

The man lied in a court of law saying SS was terminally ill and a few months later he was playinmg a round of golf. The psychiatrist is guilty as sin.

Soutie Biltong on March 5, 2010, 2:26 pm

Dave ‘Steve’ Martin
There are those of us, the majority within the ANC, who believe in the ANC and not in individuals. These (alleged)articles about the centralisation of power, paranoid administrations, elimination of dissenters, etc was public after-the-fact knowledge and hardly constituted breaking news or, dare say, investigative journalism.
NB# Comrades Hani and Slovo were not part of the ANC, but SACP cadres. My point is that I question your 'allegiance' to the ANC, at ANY point in time (ie. if you're confused about its membership). Comrade Mandela is a staunch supporter of Comrade Zuma. Dali Thambo gave warm tributes to President Zuma at his father's London home just the other day, on behalf of his family and late father. Therefore, your claims of the ANC's leadership being a disgrace to those leaders should be best left for discussion within your neo-liberal circle of friends. What we have currently in the ANC is a vigorous drive for social transformation, at all levels. It will not be derailed by the class chatterers who believe themselves to be non-racist, yet make a comments such as 'Zulu Boy'.

My ANC !
My Vision !
My Future !

The Moxster on March 5, 2010, 2:40 pm

@ The Moxster

Why is it that such one eyed support for the ANC is seems to be strongly correlated with intellectual dishonesty?

Dave Martin's comment was

"All of us who were part of the ANC AND SUPPORTED THE MOVEMENT OF Sisulu, Kathrada, Slovo and Hani "

You must have seen that. No mention of either being members of the ANC but of "the movement".

Further, he mentioned "100% Zulu Boy" which you selectively quote as "Zulu boy" and base an accusation of racism on your own misquote. Didn't you see the millions of t-shirts with a smiling Zuma printed on the front with "100% Zulu Boy" before the elections? ANC shirts?

It is also funny that you defend what is a criticism of the cult of personality/Blind faith to a (currently undeseriving)organisation based on history by calling on personalities and history.

Do none of the ANC fanboy's know how to string together a reasonable argument without fallacies?

mallen colly on March 5, 2010, 3:48 pm

Shaik got 15 years jail.
Yesterday two guys who murdered a 16 yr old girl didn't even get jail time.
The justice system is hopeless.
We live in a nice country where you can kill and not go to jail.

Oom Piet on March 5, 2010, 4:06 pm

Oom Piet I wonder how many people died as a result of the arms deal. I wonder how many lives that money could have saved?

Murder of a different kind. Mass murder in fact.

Soutie Biltong on March 5, 2010, 5:43 pm

The fact remains that Shaik is still alive and well. The "system" screwed up. Gangat was part of that system as well as the board who signed the parole as well as the law etc. It all stinks. The only way of fixing it is to put the man back in prison to serve his time and serve justice. But the folk who could go down won't allow it or have I just been reading too many conspiracy novels?

Voluntary Exile on March 5, 2010, 6:38 pm

Mallen colly: Moxster's zealous warped non-logic and blind desperate ANC (My Future!) support is nothing we have not seen before; it has a Jonathan Moyo-oid quality.
He merely incites and deflects, contributing nothing; an intellectually corrupt empty vessel with too much time on his hands. A puffed up, self confessed little ANC troll.
What a waste of time!
Ignore him.

Mac Flurry on March 5, 2010, 9:13 pm

My ANC !
My Vision !
My Future !
The Moxster
--------
I seriously doubt it.

inyourface on March 6, 2010, 12:07 am