Islamic teachings made me give Zuma money – Shaik

He is expected to argue that the payments were made out of loyalty to and friendship with Zuma and that he acted out of the African concept of Ubuntu and his Islamic beliefs. Shaik is appealing against his conviction on two counts of corruption and one of fraud and the 15-year jail term imposed by the High Court. Durban attorney Mohammed Moolla, a spokesperson for the Muslim body Hajjwatch, told the Mail & Guardian that the Holy Koran encourages altruism and calls for debts to be written off if the debtor cannot repay. Shaik is expected to argue that his financial assistance was an extension of a friendship dating back to exile, and that similar relationships existed between other businesspeople and ANC politicians before and after 1994. Shaik will also argue that the State’s failure to try him with Zuma and French arms company Thint, from which Shaik allegedly solicited a R500 000 annual bribe for Zuma, amounted to a violation of his right to a fair trial. He is expected to repeat the argument used in other hearings that he is the victim of a political conspiracy against Zuma. Full report in Mail & Guardian Online