Zuma papers abuse of process, court told
Publish date: 12 February 2007
Issue Number: 1763
Diary: Legalbrief Today
Category: Corruption
The State\'s attempts to use the Durban High Court to obtain documentation from Mauritius amounted to an abuse of process, the court heard on Friday, with Thint CE Pierre Moynot arguing in court papers that any attempt to obtain documentation from Mauritius should be determined by a criminal court.
The filed papers are in opposition to the National Prosecuting Authority\'s (NPA) request to have documents pertaining to meetings between former Deputy President Jacob Zuma, businessman Schabir Shaik and Alain Thetard (Moynot\'s predecessor) released from Mauritius, notes a report on the Mail & Guardian Online site. Zuma\'s legal team were also expected to file papers opposing the NPA\'s application to have the Durban High Court issue a letter of request to the Mauritian Attorney-General in terms of the International Co-operation in Criminal Matters (ICCM) Act. In March last year, the NPA attempted to obtain a similar letter of request, but Judge Pete Combrinck ruled that any letter of request would have to be granted by a trial judge. Full Mail & Guardian Online report
