Zuma case: State to respond on documents
March 02 2007 at 07:26AM
The State is expected to file papers in the Durban High Court on Friday in its attempt to obtain documents from Mauritius relating to accusations of corruption against Jacob Zuma. The State will respond to objections raised by Zuma and the French arms manufacturer Thint against the National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) attempts to have documents pertaining to meetings between Zuma, Thint and convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik released from Mauritius.
On December 12 last year, the NPA asked the Durban High Court to issue a letter of request to the Mauritian attorney-general under the International Co-operation in Criminal Matters Act.In accordance with the ruling by Judge Phillip Levinsohn, lawyers for Zuma and Thint filed papers last month opposing the application.
The NPA needs to file its response by Friday. The matter will be argued in the Pietermaritzburg High Court from March 22 to 25. The documents, held in Mauritius, include the 2000 diary of former Thint chief executive Alain Thetard. In supporting documentation submitted on December 12 it was revealed that "the entry (in Thetard's diary) for 11 March 2000, is a particularly important piece of evidence for the State and the present prosecution. "It appears from this entry that Thetard met with 'J Zuma + SS' (Schabir Shaik) in Durban on that day."
The NPA needs to file its response by Friday. The matter will be argued in the Pietermaritzburg High Court from March 22 to 25. The documents, held in Mauritius, include the 2000 diary of former Thint chief executive Alain Thetard. In supporting documentation submitted on December 12 it was revealed that "the entry (in Thetard's diary) for 11 March 2000, is a particularly important piece of evidence for the State and the present prosecution. "It appears from this entry that Thetard met with 'J Zuma + SS' (Schabir Shaik) in Durban on that day."
Shaik was convicted of fraud and two counts of corruption by Judge Hilary Squires in July 2005. Earlier this year the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld that judgment and Shaik was sent to prison.On the second count of corruption, Shaik was found guilty of trying to solicit a R500 000 a year bribe from Thetard for Zuma. In March 2006 the NPA tried to get a similar letter of request, but Judge Pete Combrinck ruled that it had to be granted by the trial judge hearing the case against Zuma. In September last year Judge Herbert Msimang struck the case against Zuma and Thint from the roll after the State had sought a postponement pending the outcome of Shaik's appeal, and a challenge to the search and seizure raids carried out on the homes and businesses of Zuma, his attorneys and Thint. The outstanding Mauritian documents were at the time presented to the court as a reason for the postponement of the case. - Sapa
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