Publication: Business Day Issued: Date: 2006-08-23 Reporter: Vukani Mde Reporter: Karima Brown

Zuma wants His Trial Split from Thint

 

Publication 

Business Day
Date 2006-08-23

Reporter

 Vukani Mde, Karima Brown

Web Link

www.businessday.co.za

 

Former deputy president Jacob Zuma has asked the Pietermaritzburg High Court to separate his corruption trial from the prosecution of French arms company Thint, if the court fails to grant him a permanent stay of execution.

In an affidavit submitted to the court yesterday, Zuma says trying him separately from Thint would expedite his long-delayed prosecution and simplify the three-way legal wrangle between himself and Thint, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Zuma filed the affidavit in response to the state’s application for a postponement of the trial until the first half of next year.

“In this regard, a separation of trials from (Thint) will be sought, with my trial to proceed first.

“This will greatly simplify the disputes between the parties and the acceptance of a realistic timetable,” Zuma said.

Zuma has also asked the court to set a final trial date and to provide a “timetable” for the conduct of the trial.

Zuma also wants the NPA’s ability to conduct further investigations that could lead to additional charges against him to be curbed. He is currently in court on the basis of a “provisional indictment”, with the state indicating that this could be amended to include charges of fraud and tax evasion.

Zuma maintains that the case against him is politically driven and part of a wider conspiracy to prevent him “playing a role” in the African National Congress (ANC) and politics in general.

His application for a permanent stay of execution is calculated to free him to take part in the ANC’s national conference in December next year, where he could stand for the party presidency.

Among the measures Zuma wants the court to take are: to limit the prosecution to the use of documentation not in dispute between himself and the state; to impose a timetable for the state to provide him with “further particulars” and an audit report by KPMG; and to issue an instruction allowing no further adjournments to the state.

Zuma’s legal troubles stem from the fraud and corruption conviction of his friend and former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, last year.

In convicting Shaik, Judge Hilary Squires concluded there was a “generally corrupt relationship” between Zuma and Shaik.

With acknowledgements to Vukani Mde, Karima Brown and Business Day.