Graft case for South Africa s Zuma delayed to May 26
By AFP
Zuma greets supporters before his corruption trial is postponed. By ROGAN WARD (POOL/AFP)
The start of the corruption trial of South Africa s scandal-tainted ex-president Jacob Zuma, which was slated to start on Monday, has been postponed to May 26, a judge said.
Zuma is facing 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering relating to a 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military gear from five European arms firms for 30 billion rand, then the equivalent of nearly $5.0 billion.
The 79-year-old Zuma, who was at the time serving as deputy president to Thabo Mbeki, is accused of accepting bribes totalling four million rand from one of the firms, French defence giant Thales.
NPA warns against delay tactics as Zuma trial postponed
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Pietermaritzburg - The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says it hopes former president Jacob Zuma s application for the recusal of lead prosecutor Billy Downer is not another delaying tactic.
Zuma appeared in the dock at the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Monday. However, the start of the trial has been postponed and adjourned to May 26.
Zuma is on trial on charges of racketeering, two counts of corruption and 12 counts of fraud, nine of which are for allegedly making false income tax returns. He is charged along with French arms manufacturer Thales.
The start of proceedings saw Downer approaching Judge Piet Koen about an application for his possible recusal. Downer said he and the NPA had yet to see the application.
ARMS DEAL TRIAL: Zuma lawyers want prosecutor Billy Downer removed
17 May 2021 1:22 PM
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National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Sipho Ngwema says Downer has been working on the case for 20 years.
Former president Jacob Zumaâs trial has been postponed until 26 May 2021 for a plea to be recorded.
Judge Piet Koen has granted Zumaâs new lawyers time to file his plea.
Zuma and French company Thales made a short appearance in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on charges of corruption, racketeering and money laundering stemming from the 1999 arms deal.
His legal counsel, Advocate Thabani Masuku, said his client was ready for the trial.
âââ 13:00 Mon, 17 May 2021 PHOTO: Twitter
The corruption trial of former president Jacob Zuma has been adjourned to 26 May.
The adjournment is for the court to hear Zuma s legal team s plea for the recusal of state prosecutor Billy Downer.
Zuma and co-accused French arms manufacturer Thales face multiple charges of fraud, corruption, and racketeering in connection with the multi-billion-rand arms deal of the 1990s.
Zuma s new legal representative Thabani Masuku has denied that the adjournment is a delay tactic by the former president. Just to also place on record, Mr Zuma is ready to proceed with the trial and has always been ready to proceed with the trial. it should never be regathered, the plea we intent to raise is a sign we are not ready, we are ready, Masuku told the court.