|
Zuma Files Argument with Court |
| Publication |
Cape Argus |
| Date | 2008-11-25 |
| Reporter | Sapa |
|
Web Link |
ANC President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday filed his replying heads of argument
with the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein in the National Prosecuting
Authority's appeal application.
The Bloemfontein court would on Friday hear an appeal by the National Director
of Public Prosecutions against a Pietermaritzburg High Court judgment which
invalidated the charges it brought against Zuma.
Judge Chris Nicholson granted the state leave to appeal against his September 12
judgment. He held that the State's decision to prosecute Zuma was unlawful
because it had failed to take representations from him.
Zuma faced a charge each of racketeering and money laundering, two charges of
corruption and 12 charges of fraud related to the multi-billion rand government
arms deal.
He was charged in 2005, but the case was struck from the roll in 2006. He was
recharged in December 2007.
Lawyers for former state president Thabo Mbeki would also address the Supreme
Court of Appeal during the hearing.
Earlier, Mbeki unsuccessfully challenged Nicholson's judgment, which inferred he
politically meddled in the National Prosecuting Authority's investigation of
Zuma. The Constitutional Court dismissed Mbeki's application, saying it was "not
in the interests of justice" to hear it at that stage.
Mbeki turned to the SCA which granted him time to address the panel of five
appeal judges who would sit on the appeal.
The SCA panel would include the court's acting Deputy President Judge Louis
Harms, Judge Ian Farlam, Judge Nathan Ponnan, Judge Mandisa Maya and Judge Azar
Cachalia.
Court officials said security at the SCA would be very tight. A huge media
contingent was also expected in Bloemfontein.
Free State ANC spokesperson Teboho Sikisi said the party had applied for
permission to hold a rally in front of the
court on Friday.
"Something along the lines of what happened during the last court appearance,"
he said.
Sikisi said they expected all the national
leaders of the alliance partners to be at the court. -
Sapa
With acknowledgements to Sapa and Cape Argus.