Court told Zuma got special treatment
Publish date: 27 February 2007
Issue Number: 1774
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: Constitutional
Judge Herbert Msimangs decision to strike the case against Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thint from the court roll is open to criticism, a top Scorpions investigator has told the Constitutional Court.
A senior Directorate of Special Operations member, Johan du Plooy, described Zuma as vague and less than honest in his dealings with investigators, suggesting that convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik did not call Zuma to testify on his behalf because of the cross-examination grilling Zuma would have faced from the State. A report in The Mercury says Du Plooy submitted a strongly-worded affidavit in response to Shaiks claims, made to the Constitutional Court, that the way in which he had been investigated and prosecuted for corruption had violated his right to a fair trial. Du Plooy said Zuma had got special treatment when he and Shaik were being investigated for corruption, with prosecuting department heavy weights even dubbing the former deputy president Mr X to save him from public embarrassment. Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)
