Publication: The Star Issued: Date: 2007-10-12 Reporter: Karen Maughan Reporter:

'Throw My Case Out Too'

 

Publication 

The Star
Date

2007-10-12
Reporter Karyn Maughan

Web Link

www.thestar.co.za

  

Zuma uses NPA chief's suspension to call for a review of his own case

Jacob Zuma is adamant that National Prosecuting Authority boss Vusi Pikoli's suspension is grounds for the Scorpions corruption investigation against him to be reviewed and possibly abandoned.

And Zuma wants any reassessment of the "politically motivated" case to be done with his input.

Zuma's attorney, Michael Hulley, confirmed yesterday that, following the suspension of Pikoli, the ANC deputy president had sent a letter expressing "certain concerns" to the prosecuting body.

While Hulley declined to comment on the content of the letter, it is understood to request that the NPA consider conducting a review of their case against Zuma.

The letter is further believed to ask that Zuma be allowed to "make representations" to the panel conducting the review, should it go ahead.

But Zuma is unlikely to find any support for his "political conspiracy" claims from Pikoli, who has consistently denied Zuma's allegations that he acted at President Thabo Mbeki's behest when he charged Zuma with fraud and corruption in June 2005.

Zuma has previously claimed that, during a trip to Chile that followed the fraud and corruption conviction of his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik, Mbeki had instructed Pikoli to charge him.

Pikoli vehemently denies this claim, which he brands as "scurrilous" and unfounded, and states that he only informed Mbeki and Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla that Zuma would be charged after he had made the decision to do so.

Describing how he informed Zuma that he would be charged, Pikoli said he wanted to convey the information to him "personally as a matter of courtesy … I didn't want him to learn thereof in the media".

"I should add that, on a personal level, this was not an easy task for me, as this was a man that I had looked up to as my political leader during my time in exile.

"Mr Zuma then raised certain concerns as to the effect that my decision would have on his career.

I empathised with him and expressed the hope to him that the matter should be resolved as soon as possible one way or the other," he said.

But, as the ANC's succession battle looms, Zuma refuses to back down.

In a statement yesterday, Hulley expressed "grave concern" about weekend media reports detailing a meeting convened by the Scorpions to consider resolutions adopted by the ANC at its mid-year policy conference.

"It is a matter of concern that the Scorpions would deem it necessary to react to resolutions of a political party in a manner which influences its prosecutorial decisions against Mr Zuma and other named individuals," he said.

Minutes from the meeting, which NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali has neither confirmed nor denied, show the Scorpions viewed the case against Zuma as problematic and recorded that it needed "to be handled more so in view of the upcoming ANC national conference in December".

According to Hulley: "This has reaffirmed the long-held view that the ongoing investigation against Mr Zuma is influenced by improper political motive *1, calculated to frustrate any leadership role to which Mr Zuma may be called by the membership of the ANC.

There can be no clearer demonstration of this than in the present instance."

The last of the Scorpions' legal wrangles with Zuma are expected to be decided in mid-November, when the Supreme Court of Appeal will decide if the warrants used to raid his and his attorneys' premises were valid.

This court is also expected to rule on Zuma's attempt to stop the Scorpions from obtaining 14 original Mauritian documents used to convict Shaik.

With acknowledgements to Karyn Maughan and The Star.


*1       Just because the matter is considered problematic, like his supporters have effectively threatened to burn down the country if convicted, why should this be improper political motive?

It does not follow.

Also in each and every application for review, in court this applicant or respondent (as the case may be) has abandoned any reliance on the political conspiracy theory.

The reasons are (at least) two :
But it seems that as soon as he is out of court that again the twaddle gets raised in correspondence or with the media or in public - and as the primary position nogal.


"Throw this criminal in jail too".