Parole for SA lawyer in Belarus

DISGRACED lawyer Dirk Prinsloo‚ who fled South Africa after being implicated in a child sex scandal‚ is due to be released on parole from a Belarus prison.

Prinsloo skipped the country 11 years ago amid accusations that he and the infamous “Advocate Barbie”, Cézanne Visser had, among other crimes‚ produced child pornography.

Prinsloo fled to Belarus in 2005 after he told the Pretoria High Court where he was standing trial that he was going on a Christmas holiday to Russia.

He was arrested in 2009 in Belarus after he tried to rob a bank and was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment for robbery and theft.

In 2010 Visser was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. She was released in 2013.

Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesman‚ Nelson Kgwete‚ said Prinsloo was due to appear in court on Monday in Belarus.

“The court will rule on his final release date. Officials at our embassy in Minsk will attend the court proceedings. The department has not‚ as yet‚ been approached to work on any aspect of Prinsloo’s possible extradition.”

Prinsloo’s release date could be delayed if the South African authorities decide to apply for his extradition. — TMG