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South Africa's prosecution to challenge Zuma corruption ruling

Xinhua, May 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Africa's prosecution, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said on Monday it will appeal against a High Court ruling that corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma should be reinstated.

Ruling on the case brought by the opposition last month, the High Court said that it was "irrational" for the NPA to drop the more than 700 charges against Zuma in 2009.

Addressing the media in Pretoria on Monday, the NPA Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shaun Abrahams, said: "I have decided to apply for leave to appeal against the judgment."

He said he had instructed a state attorney to appeal to the Supreme Court against the ruling.

"I will carry out my duties irrespective of who the suspect is without fear or favor," he added.

In early 1999, Zuma was charged with fraud and corruption in contracts worth about 30 billion rand (about 1.9 billion U.S. dollars at current rate) in an arms procurement deal with European countries.

The NPA withdrew the charges, citing conspiracy against Zuma, weeks before the 2009 election in which Zuma won the presidency. Endit