Zuma and Thales have applied for a permanent stay of prosecution.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court heard on Thursday afternoon that prosecuting French arms company Thales for graft should not be halted because the evidence against the corporation was “very strong”.He told judges Jerome Mnguni, Esther Steyn and Thoba Poyo-Dlwati that Thales was charged with “very serious offences, and the evidence against it is very strong”.
Zuma is alleged to have received bribes from Thales via his friend and former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, to protect the company from an investigation that was launched at the time. The alleged bribes were also to sway Zuma to look favourably on Thales for any future contracts.Breitenbach continued: “In a case involving a serious offence, the societal demand to bring the accused to justice is much greater and the court should be much slower to grant a permanent stay.
“Barring the prosecution before the trial begins, and consequently without any opportunity to ascertain the real effect of the delay on the outcome of the case, is far reaching.
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