South Africa: Jacob Zuma in court over corruption case with Thales
Jacob Zuma is charged with fraud, influence peddling and extortion in a corruption case with the company Thales (illustration image) REUTERS / Mike Hutchings
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Former South African President Jacob Zuma expected in court this Monday, May 17, at the high court of Pietermaritzburg in his province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Zuma is being sued in a corruption case with the French military industrialist Thalès.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,
Romain Chanson
The facts date back to 1999 when Jacob Zuma was vice president of South Africa.
He is accused of having received bribes from Thales around an arms contract totaling around 3 billion euros.
Fraud, influence peddling and extortion.
Here are the charges against both Jacob Zuma and the French arms company Thalès.
The South African State is the complainant.
He maintains that Jacob Zuma was bribed by Thales to protect the company from a possible lawsuit over the conditions for awarding a lucrative arms contract.
This extraordinary trial, presented as one of the most important in the recent history of the country, should see more than 200 witnesses.
They will be heard until June 20 if the schedule is met.
And this will be the only uncertainty of this first day of hearing, can the trial begin?
Jacob Zuma's new legal team may request additional time to prepare his defense.
Consequence of a shattering resignation in April.
Jacob Zuma's lawyers had let go of their client, without explaining why.
Since his indictment, Jacob Zuma has multiplied the remedies to avoid a trial.
He says he is persecuted.
Read also South Africa: Jacob Zuma, 20 years in business
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South Africa
Justice
Jacob Zuma