French arms company Thales has filed an application to have corruption charges against it dropped in the case involving former South African President Jacob Zuma. The NPA plans to vigorously oppose the application, citing the lack of merit.
The National Prosecuting Authority ( NPA ) has vowed to strongly oppose an application by French arms company Thales to have corruption charges against it dropped in the case involving former president Jacob Zuma . Thales , in its application, cited lengthy delays in the case, claiming it has resulted in an irreparable infringement of its constitutional rights to a fair trial, specifically the right to present and challenge evidence.
The company also stated that two of its key witnesses have since died. The NPA, however, maintains that the application lacks merit and is likely to be dismissed. This case has a long and convoluted history. Zuma and Thales were first charged in 2005, but the charges were later dropped. In 2007, the charges were reinstated, only to be withdrawn again in 2009. The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) overturned the withdrawal decision in 2018, leading to the case being reinstated once more. The trial finally commenced in May 2021, with Zuma pleading not guilty. Zuma's previous attempts to remove state prosecutor advocate Billy Downer from the case were unsuccessful. The presiding judge ruled that Downer's role as lead prosecutor would not prejudice Zuma and would not violate his right to a fair trial.Following numerous delays in the pre-trial hearings, the trial is scheduled to begin in April this year. Both Zuma and Thales have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Arms Deal Corruption Thales Jacob Zuma National Prosecuting Authority NPA Legal Proceedings Justice System
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