Zuma corruption trial postponed for plea Updated
Nushera Soodyal
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Former President Jacob Zuma’s legal team is planning to bring an application that could see the lead prosecutor removed from his corruption trial.
Image courtesy: AFP
The matter, which is related to the multi-billion rand arms deal, got underway on Monday in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
French arms company, Thales is a co-accused in the trial.
Judge Piet Koen’s first order of business this morning was to give Zuma’s former lawyers, Mabuza Attorneys, permission to officially withdraw from the case.
They filed notice in the High Court nearly a month ago, saying they would no longer be representing the former president.
Zuma s trial adjourned to May 26
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A corruption case against former South African President
Jacob Zuma and French company Thales related to an arms deal was adjourned on Monday to May 26, and his defence lawyer said Zuma would plead not guilty when the hearing finally starts.
Former president Jacob Zuma during a court appearance in Pietermaritzburg in 2019. Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
There was yet another postponement on Monday to the highly-anticipated start of the corruption, racketeering and money laundering trial of former president Jacob Zuma and his co-accused, French arms company Thales.
The trial, due to a lack of finality in terms of the pretrial proceedings, was adjourned to May 26, a date on which Zuma and his co-accused are expected to enter their formal plea.
Zuma’s legal team, led by advocate Thabani Masuku, indicated that it would be bringing an application for state prosecutor Billy Downer, to recuse himself from leading the state’s prosecution.
Monday 17 May 2021 - 11:29am
Former president Jacob Zuma faces 16 charges charges of corruption, money laundering, fraud and racketeering. #eNCA Courtesy #DStv403
PIETERMARITZBURG - Former president, Jacob Zuma s corruption trial has been postponed to 26 May 2021.
This for him to enter his formal plea.
Jacob Zumaâs corruption trial postponed to May 26
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Durban - Former president Jacob Zuma is ready to proceed with the corruption and racketeering trial against him, his legal team told the Pietermaritzburg High Court as trial proceedings were postponed until May 26.
Proceedings on Monday began with Judge Piet Koen granting Zuma s former lawyer, Eric Mabuza, leave to withdraw as Zumaâs legal representative.
Zuma is on trial on charges of racketeering, two counts of corruption and 12 counts of fraud â nine of which are for allegedly making false income tax returns. He is charged along with French arms manufacturer Thales.