Judge Piet Koen hasn't ruled on Jacob Zuma's bid to challenge the dismissal of his latest attack on his corruption prosecution, but the former president is already preparing a second appeal application - just in case.
State advocate Billy Downer says there is no legal basis for Jacob Zuma to demand that he be acquitted of Arms Deal corruption, should the former president succeed in his efforts to force Downer's removal.
Former president Jacob Zuma claims that ‘foreign intelligence agencies’ may have interfered in his corruption prosecution.
In his ‘special plea’ challenging the right of prosecutor Billy Downer to try him for Arms Deal-related corruption and racketeering, Zuma claimed he had ‘come across information’ that former Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy was an operative for America’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and was handled by an agent called André Pienaar.
He said Pienaar, who he said was code-named Luciano, was responsible for getting McCarthy his job at the World Bank.
‘I fear that Mr Downer SC has covered up McCarthy’s despicable conduct in manipulating my trial for political and intelligence reasons,’ Zuma stated, adding that sources had provided information that McCarthy had regular and unlawful contact with foreign intelligence agencies ‘during his investigation of me’.
Gallo Images/Darren Stewart
Former president Jacob Zuma, who has previously testified that international and apartheid spies had repeatedly tried to kill him, is now claiming that foreign intelligence agencies may have interfered in his corruption prosecution.
In his special plea challenging the right of prosecutor Billy Downer to try him for Arms Deal-related corruption and racketeering, Zuma claimed he had come across information that former Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy was an operative for America s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and was handled by an agent called Andre Pienaar.
He said Pienaar, who he said was code-named Luciano, was responsible for getting McCarthy his job at the World Bank.