ONE of the killers of honeymoon bride Anni Dewani is set to walk free after winning parole from jail - despite objections from her furious family.
Taxi driver Zola Tongo was alleged to have hired two hitmen on the orders of Anni’s British millionaire husband Shrien on their honeymoon in Cape Town, South Africa in 2010.
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Anni Dewani was killed in Cape Town in 2010 Credit: Rex Features 3
Taxi driver Zola Tongo was alleged to have hired two hitmen on the orders of Anni’s British millionaire husband
Tongo, now 42, was jailed for 18 years for his part in Anni's killing by a single bullet in a brutal car-jack heist and expected to be released as early as July, 2020.
But Anni’s father Vinod succeeded in blocking the freedom bid, claiming Tongo was withholding secrets about the case - in which charges against Shrien were thrown out.
Tongo has since renewed his plea for parole - and his lawyers won the argument that he had been rehabilitated, paving the way for his release on June 21.
Anni’s uncle Ashok Hindocha vented his fury yesterday on hearing of Tongo parole verdict.
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He said: “This is a shame to the South African justice system.
“Good police work has gone down the drain - we saw and heard that at the main court hearing.
“I hope from my heart that no other father should go through what Anni's father did but by throwing out a cold blooded criminal who is not ready for society it's likely that will happen again.”
Care home tycoon Shrien’s trial for Anni's murder was dramatically cut short in 2014 when a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to proceed.
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Swedish beauty Anni, 28, was shot dead on her honeymoon in a cab driven by Tongo in 2010 after it was hijacked by two gunmen in a tough Cape Town suburb.
Dewani, now 40, from Bristol was alleged to have been allowed to escape after paying cash to Tongo to set up the hit.
After serving half of his 18-year sentence, “model prisoner” Tongo was due to leave hellhole Malmesbury prison 40 miles from Cape Town in 2020.
But after packing his bags, he was told his parole had been withdrawn and was being reviewed just 24 hours before he was due to walk free.
Tongo is said to have wept when shown a picture of Anni when her family was allowed to grill him over his proposed release last year - but did not apologise.
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Shrien Dewani was accused of hiring a hitman to kill Anni Dewani, 28, on their honeymoon Credit: Handout
The killer’s parole was granted on condition that he submits to High Risk supervision and monitoring for 12 months.
Conditions include house detention and an order to do community service work plus a ban on drinking or taking drugs.
Tongo won his freedom at a marathon six-hour parole board hearing held in Cape Town yesterday which was attended by Anni’s father Vinod Hindocha and his brother Ashok.
According to South African law, a convicted criminal serving 25 years or less becomes eligible for parole after serving half his jail sentence.
Tongo will be placed under house arrest for the first year of his parole which will last for six years before he is a totally free man.
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At the hearing, the killer cabbie repeated his allegation yesterday that Dewani paid him to orchestrate the 2010 hit on Anni.
He was granted indemnity for being instrumental in the quick arrests of his co-conspirators.