Court rules Zuma should face almost 800 graft charges

AFP, PRETORIA: South African President Jacob Zuma should face almost 800 corruption charges that were dropped in 2009, a judge said Friday, piling further pressure on the embattled leader. The charges, relating to a multi-billion dollar arms deal, were dropped by the chief state prosecutor in a move that cleared the way for Zuma to be elected president. “The decision... to discontinue the charges against Mr Zuma is irrational and should be reviewed,” Pretoria High Court judge Aubrey Ledwaba said. “Mr Zuma should face the charges as applied.” The prosecutor had justified dropping the charges by saying that tapped phone calls between senior officials in then-president Thabo Mbeki’s administration showed political interference in the case.

 

Court rules Zuma should face almost 800 graft charges

AFP, PRETORIA: South African President Jacob Zuma should face almost 800 corruption charges that were dropped in 2009, a judge said Friday, piling further pressure on the embattled leader. The charges, relating to a multi-billion dollar arms deal, were dropped by the chief state prosecutor in a move that cleared the way for Zuma to be elected president. The decision... to discontinue the charges against Mr Zuma is irrational and should be reviewed, Pretoria High Court judge Aubrey Ledwaba said. Mr Zuma should face the charges as applied. The prosecutor had justified dropping the charges by saying that tapped phone calls between senior officials in then-president Thabo Mbekis administration showed political interference in the case.