Cape Town – Former South African president Jacob Zuma has agreed to expedite his application to have State Advocate Billy Downer removed from the arms deal corruption case.
Zuma’s legal team and state counterparts were set to argue the matter in court on Tuesday, but the Office of the Chief Justice cancelled the hearing to conduct a virtual case management meeting with all parties involved.
The former president’s lawyers met with KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Thoba Poyo-Dlwati to discuss the case’s pending litigation and implications, The Citizen reported.
“The meeting was cordial and issues related to the related litigation pending before the Supreme Court of Appeal and the possible implications thereof on the removal application were raised and fully discussed.
JG Zuma Foundation says Jacob Zuma’s latest interlocutory application to remove Advocate Billly Downer as prosecutor in arms deal trial will go ahead as soon as possible. However date hasn’t been set for the matter to be heard in Pietermaritzburg High Court. #sabcnews
— SAfm news (@SAfmnews) August 15, 2023
“Ultimately the state proposed that the present application be dealt with expeditiously and as soon as possible. The applicant’s legal team requested an opportunity to consult with their client for his response to the proposal, which was granted until Friday 18 August 2023,” the report quoted the Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi as saying.
Zuma claims Downer leaked his private medical records to a journalist, which both Downer and the journalist denied. Zuma faces charges of fraud, racketeering, and money laundering linked to a 1999 arms deal.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
