Publication: Sunday Times Issued: Date: 2007-03-25 Reporter: Paddy Harper Reporter:

Judge Set to Rule on Request for Thint Diary

 

Publication 

Sunday Times

Date

2007-03-25

Reporter

 Paddy Harper

Web Link

www.sundaytimes.co.za

 

ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma should know by the end of the week whether the Pietermaritzburg High Court will assist the Scorpions in requesting Mauritian authorities to release evidence central to attempts to re-charge him with corruption.

On Friday, Judge Phillip Levinsohn reserved judgment in an application for a request for mutual legal assistance by Scorpions prosecutor Billy Downer in securing documents seized in 2001 during raids in Mauritius.

The documents include a diary of French arms dealer Thint official Alain Thetard which prosecutors say helps confirm that Zuma’s former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, solicited a R500 000 bribe from Thint for Zuma in return for his protecting the company from arms deal investigators. They are being held under injunction in Mauritius as the result of a subsequent application by Thint.

Copies of the documents were used in the successful prosecution and conviction of Shaik, and Downer’s team wants the originals as part of their preparations in its bid to re-charge Zuma and Thint boss Pierre Moynot.

On Thursday, Zuma made a surprise appearance at the hearing and sat through what was a difficult session for his legal team *1, with Kemp J Kemp being lashed by Levinsohn *2 for late submission of heads of argument outlining his strategy.

A handful of Zuma supporters held a rather dispirited *3 picket on the court steps throughout Thursday and Friday, while a fund-raising concert held in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday to raise funds for Zuma’s defence was a total flop *3, as was a night vigil *3 called by the Friends of Jacob Zuma Trust.

With acknowledgements to Paddy Harper and Sunday Times.


*1       I don't think that being lashed by the Judge was what so important, but the Judge essentially not believing Zuma's and Thint's argument(s) why the The People as represented by The State should not be allowed to request the Mauritian authorities for the originals of evidence documents, copies of which are already legally *2 in The State's possession.


*2      A legal fact.


*3      When is it over?

When it's over.