Johannesburg, Jul 18 (PTI) The corruption trial against former South African President Jacob Zuma is set to resume with a virtual hearing on Monday, while the country still grapples with the effects of a weeks-long spree of looting and arson. Used to be. His imprisonment in a separate case.
The local branch of French defense firm Thales, which is a co-accused in the corruption case, alleged that Zuma had received bribes from the firm to evade investigations into irregularities in a $2 billion arms deal. Which was disclosed by a member of the South African Parliament. He is accused of pocketing four million rand (US$277,000) as a bribe from Thales.
Zuma has denied the allegations.
Zuma’s lawyers filed a last-minute application on Saturday to postpone his corruption trial because he wants to testify in person as to why he should be acquitted of corruption without trial.
Zuma is currently serving a 15-month sentence by the country’s top court for contempt of court after he repeatedly refused to testify at a commission of inquiry held in the state’s possession, where several witnesses called him. implicated in corruption. He was arrested in this case on July 7.
Analysts say it was another attempt by Zuma to delay ongoing trials by more than a decade.
But now it appears his lawyers will argue for his acquittal on Monday through a “special petition” where he is expected to share his view that he should be acquitted of corruption charges because The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is very biased towards prosecuting. him.
In the commission’s case, Zuma had repeatedly called for the removal of the chairman, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, accusing him of being biased.
The NPA had opposed an application to adjourn the corruption trial after Zuma’s lawyer Bethuel Thucini filed on Saturday that his client (while he is in prison) had to conduct his trial on a virtual platform. cannot be compelled to conduct and/or in his absence.
Judge Pete Koen of the Pietermaritzburg High Court said, “I am very conscious that the only argument, however, would be that this remains a criminal trial which usually requires the presence of the accused.”
However, Coen directed that Zuma’s application for a “special petition” be argued virtually because the current Level 4 of the five-stage COVID-19 lockdown has placed limits on travel and large gatherings.
The judge also reportedly asked officials to provide facilities at the Estcourt Correctional Center, where Zuma is being held, to enable the former president to virtually follow the proceedings.
The Chief Justice’s office on Sunday issued a statement urging members of the media to follow the court proceedings on the YouTube channel, in order to minimize distractions on the virtual proceedings. PTI FH SCY
(This story has been published as part of an auto-generated Syndicate wire feed. Headline or body have not been edited by ABP Live.)
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