A provisional indictment detailing charges against former deputy president Jacob Zuma was handed over to his attorney Michael Hulley Friday.

Hulley told Weekend Witness that it was an "informal process". He picked up the 96-page indictment from the National Prosecuting Authority's office.

He said the details of the indictment such as the charges will not be released until he consults with Zuma. Hulley hinted that it might be released on Monday.

The provisional indictment will become a public document on November 12 when Zuma makes a brief court appearance in Durban.

Hulley also revealed that French arms manufacturing company, Thint (also known as Thales and Thomson-CSF) has been listed as one of the accused in Zuma's indictment.

Thint's attorney Ajay Sooklal was not available for comment, but NPA spokesman Makhosini Nkosi confirmed that Thint Holding (previously known Thomson-CSF), and Thint (Pty) Ltd (previously known as Thomson (Pty) Ltd), are the two other accused on trial with Zuma.

The NPA served a written notice on both companies at their Pretoria offices Friday. Both companies face corruption charges.

Both Zuma and Thint were implicated in Durban businessman Schabir Shaik's fraud and corruption trial when Judge Hillary Squires ruled that Shaik facilitated an annual R500 000 payment from Thint to Zuma in exchange for the former deputy president's protection from a probe into the country's multi-billion rands arms deal.

Zuma was further implicated when the court found that Shaik paid Zuma R1,2 million for his influence to secure business deals for his Nkobi group.

The NPA Friday also handed over replying affidavits relating to an application made last month to the Durban High Court for an order to have the search warrants that authorised August's search and seizure at Hulley's and Zuma's premises to be set aside and to have the confiscated items returned.

In the 195-page application, Hulley requests that the court set aside the search warrants that relate to Zuma's private property in Johannesburg and KZN, the premises that he occupied as deputy president and as KZN Economic Affairs MEC and Hulley's offices.

He requests that the NPA return the seized items, which include a computer hard-drive from Zuma's home and documents from both Zuma's and Hulley's premises. Hulley has made the application on the grounds that the warrants were "unlawfully executed".

With acknowledgements to Nivashni Nair and The Natal Witness.