NPA makes its first move in bid to recharge Zuma

The National Prosecuting Authority yesterday presented its application for a court order to obtain key documents held by authorities in Mauritius. The documents were seized from a local branch of a French arms contractor that had been charged along with Zuma. They include a diary in which a former head of the French firm, Thint, made a note of a meeting he allegedly had with Zuma and his financial adviser Schabir Shaik agreeing to a bribe for Zuma. According to a report on the IoL site, prosecutors say the diary and other documents would confirm that a bribe for Zuma was discussed and agreed. ‘The information contained in these documents will be required for any prosecution that may arise,’ the NPA said in an affidavit filed in the Durban High Court. ‘There is a reasonable prospect that charges could in future be re-instituted against one or more of the erstwhile accused,’ it said. Full report on the IoL site

The application asks the court to request the Mauritius authorities to hand over the documents in terms of the International Co-operation in Criminal Matters Act. The court postponed the matter to March 22. Judge Phillip Levinsohn ruled in chambers that Zuma and Thint have until February 9 to file papers opposing the application, while the State has until March 2 to respond. He also ruled that the matter be argued in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, says a report on the Mail & Guardian Online site. The NPA asked the court to issue a letter of request to the Mauritian Attorney-General in terms of the Act. Full report on Mail & Guardian Online site