S. Africa ex-president Zuma to be prosecuted for taking kickbacks
PRETORIA, South Africa - Former president Jacob Zuma will face prosecution on corruption charges that haunted much of his term in office, South Africa's chief prosecutor said on Friday.
Zuma is accused of taking kickbacks from the $5 billion purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and other arms, manufactured by five European firms, including British military equipment maker BAE Systems and French company Thales.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Luvuyo Mfaku confirmed that Thales would also face prosecution, alongside Zuma. Thales declined to make any immediate comment.
"After consideration of the matter I am of the view there are reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution of Mr Zuma on the charges listed in the indictment," National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams told a media briefing in Pretoria.
Zuma will face one count of racketeering, two counts of corruption, one of money laundering and 12 counts of fraud - all of which can carry lengthy custodial sentences on conviction.
"I am of the view that a trial court would be the most appropriate forum for these issues to be ventilated and to be decided upon," said Abrahams.
Prosecutors declined to confirm what charges Thales would face.
Last year, a court ruled against a decision by prosecutors in 2009 to drop the corruption charges against Zuma just months before he became president, laying the path to Friday's announcement.
Zuma's criminal charges relate to an arms procurement deals struck by the government in the late 1990s and from which he is accused of profiting corruptly to the tune of 4 million rand ($345,000).
Zuma resigned as president last month after the ruling African National Congress party threatened to remove him from office.
The ANC noted Friday's decision and called in a statement for "Comrade Zuma to be presumed innocent until, and if, proven guilty".
The opposition party Democratic Alliance welcomed the charges against Zuma.
Afp - Xinhua
(China Daily 03/18/2018 page9)
