- Title: SOUTH AFRICA: ANC leader accused of delaying justice
- Date: 13th March 2008
- Summary: MORE OF ZUMA WITH OTHERS TAKING SEATS VARIOUS OF PROCEEDINGS WITH JUDGES SEATED ZUMA LISTENING MORE PROCEEDINGS
- Embargoed: 28th March 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: South Africa
- Country: South Africa
- Topics: Legal System
- Reuters ID: LVA9FVB2HS5AMS5MZ8R7KVD026XO
- Story Text: South Africa's ruling party leader, Jacob Zuma, is accused of delaying justice, on his second day of the hearing at the Constitutional Court. Zuma is appealing to have the Scorpions' search and seizure raids on his home be declared unconstitutional.
A South African state lawyer accused ANC leader Jacob Zuma in court on Wednesday (March 12) of trying to delay justice through his attempt to block the use of seized documents at his upcoming corruption trial.
The trial, due to start in August, could ruin Zuma's hopes of succeeding President Thabo Mbeki in 2009. The head of the ruling African National Congress is accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes over an arms deal.
On Tuesday, Zuma launched an application in the Constitutional Court for leave to appeal against prosecutors' searches and seizures of documents in 2005. It is not clear when the court will deliver its ruling.
Wim Trengrove, acting for the state, told the court that by making the application, Zuma was merely delaying justice. Trengrove said the state believed the case against Zuma could lead to a conviction.
Zuma's rise has worried some investors, who fear that under his rule South Africa could shift away from Mbeki's pro-business policies. But the power struggle between the two men has also stirred concerns of instability.
Zuma says the charges against him are politically motivated. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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