Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2005-11-03 Reporter: Jeremy Gordin Reporter: Reporter:

Zuma Charge Sheet May Include French Company

 

Publication 

The Star
Date 2005-11-03

Reporter

 Jeremy Gordin

Web Link

www.thestar.co.za

 

Speculation is rife that giant French arms and electronics dealer Thales, known in South Africa as Thint, may be charged tomorrow alongside Jacob Zuma.

This emerged yesterday following the announcement that delivery of the indictment against the former deputy president has been postponed until tomorrow.

In terms of the agreement with the defence team of the ANC deputy, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was supposed to have handed in the indictment, albeit in a provisional form, by yesterday.

NPA spokesperson Machos Nkosi refused to discuss any aspect of the indictment.

But, according to certain defence attorneys, there have been definite indications that Thint may appear in the stand beside Zuma at his trial in July next year.

The French arms dealer, which was at one time in partnership with Zuma's former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, and won one of the tenders for combat suites in the multibillion-rand arms deal, was originally charged, along with Shaik and his companies, with corruption.

But following a bargain struck before Shaik's trial by former justice minister Penuell Maduna, then NPA chief Bulelani Ngcuka *2 and Thint's attorneys, the French arms company was not charged.

Maduna and Ngcuka agreed to drop the charge against Thint in return for an affidavit from its former South African representative, Alain Thetard, regarding a fax dealing with a request by Shaik that Zuma be paid for his "assistance" in quashing investigations into the arms deal.

In Shaik's trial, Judge Hilary Squires found that Shaik had indeed made such a request, and the judge said it seemed clear from the evidence that Zuma had been party to the events.

None of Thint's legal team is willing to comment on the matter.

Meanwhile, at Zuma's last appearance in the Durban Magistrate's Court, on October 11, on two charges of corruption, regional magistrate Bilkesh Asmal heard that the NPA, represented by Billy Downer SC, and the defence, headed by Kessie Naidu SC, had agreed on two issues: that Zuma would reappear on November 12 and that on November 2 his defence team would be given a provisional indictment against him.

But yesterday, Zuma's attorney, Michael Hulley, confirmed that the NPA had requested to be allowed until tomorrow to deliver the indictment.

"The NPA has experienced some logistical problems, which prima facie seem perfectly reasonable, so we agreed that Friday will be the day," Hulley said.

Nkosi confirmed the agreement on a two-day extension but would not be drawn on how many charges Zuma would face.

With acknowledgements to Jeremy Gordin and The Star.


*1  The Two Ronnies *2 could have put together a better double bargain than this.

More seriously, a bargain is meant to be a deal to the more-or-less mutual advantage of two parties. Just what bargain did The People, represented by The State, get out of this "bargain".

*2   Best-rated comedy double-act, until The Two Imbongolos came along.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/t/tworonniesthe_7776575.shtml

http://pegnsean.net/~occupant/home.htm
 
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This goon show would have long been over, other than regular visits to C-Max, if it weren't for said assenine bargaining skills.

[]

Cute, but clueless when it comes to bargaining.

Acknowledgement :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey