Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2008-01-03 Reporter:

Zuma Trial Unlikely Before Aug, Lawyer

 

Publication 

The Star
Date

2008-01-03

Web Link

www.thestar.co.za

 

The corruption trial of Jacob Zuma, leader of the ANC, was unlikely to take place any earlier than the already scheduled August starting date, his lawyer Michael Hulley said on Thursday.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said this week it was prepared to proceed with the case early if Zuma wished.

"I don't think that there is any likelihood that it will be sooner than (August)," Hulley told 702 radio in an interview.

Zuma, who won the African National Congress leadership in a election contest last month against the incumbent, President Thabo Mbeki, has been charged with corruption, fraud, money laundering and racketeering.

The trial is set to start on Aug. 4 and could overlap with national elections in 2009, adding to political uncertainty in Africa's biggest economy.

Zuma's supporters say the charges are meant to smear his name, coming barely two weeks after his victory to take the helm of the ANC, and to scupper his chances of succeeding Mbeki as state president.

With acknowledgements to The Star.


*1       The main person to smear his name is Accused 1 himself.

For apart from the other instances of unlawful conduct, it was he who formally denied in Parliament that he had had secret meetings with a French pimpernel in or near Durban on 10 and 11 March 2000. This was in response to a formal parliamentary question.

Effectively, Accused 1 lied directly to Parliament and The People.

For this alone he can never ever be trusted in public office and should be disqualified from ever being a member of parliament or government official, let alone president of the country.

Furthermore, during the Shaik trial Accused 1's attorney produced and testified that he had a written revolving loan agreement with his benefactor, but they could never find the original.

This was clearly simple twaddle as was found to be the case by the trial judge. The 5 Supreme Court of Appeal judges certainly also accepted the trial judge's finding in this regard.

This again shows the character of Accused 1 as a simple liar.

It is a wonder that there are not charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice against Accused 1's attorney (if not against Accused 1 himself).

Anyway, it will be interesting to see if the Accused actually allow the trial to commence on Monday 4 August 2008 or will call for a postponement to complete their preparation. I think they will call for a postponement, but their previous squealings that they have been irretrievably prejudiced due to the trial having taken so long to proceed will ring very hollow indeed.