Zuma’s financial adviser denies corruption charges

DURBAN – A financial adviser to South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma pleaded not guilty to graft charges yesterday in a crunch trial which could see far-reaching consequences for the top politician’s career.

In one of post-apartheid South Africa’s biggest trials, local businessman Shabir Shaik is facing three main charges of fraud and corruption which include claims that he paid Zuma to use his political clout to secure business deals. “I plead not guilty to all such counts presented to me,” a calm but tired-looking Shaik told a packed courthouse in this east coast port city.”I have been given a summary of fact.I am happy with the facts as they stand,” said Shaik, whose trial started in full after two days of argument on whether the electronic media should be allowed to transmit a live broadcast of proceedings.The trial has far reaching implications for Zuma’s career.The touted successor for the presidency after Mbeki steps down in 2009, it was widely believed that Zuma could find himself in the dock if Shaik is convicted.But Judge Hilary Squires yesterday warned that the trial was “not a commission of inquiry” into South Africa’s multi-billion-dollar arms deal, in which Shaik has been implicated and which is tied to Zuma.”The Deputy President is not on trial,” said Squires as proceedings got underway adding that anything that implied it “is irrelevant and inadmissible.””It should be clearly understood that the summary of fact is not established fact and unless proven it should not be regarded as truth,” the judge said.The prosecution on Monday dropped corruption charges against French arms company Thint, which was listed as one of the co-accused.The charges against Thint, the South African subsidiary of Thales International – formerly known as Thomson-CSF – were dropped in return for confirmation from its director Alain Thetard that he was the author of a document that allegedly records a bribe offer to Zuma.Shaik allegedly brokered the deal between Zuma and Thint.-Nampa-AFP”I plead not guilty to all such counts presented to me,” a calm but tired-looking Shaik told a packed courthouse in this east coast port city.”I have been given a summary of fact.I am happy with the facts as they stand,” said Shaik, whose trial started in full after two days of argument on whether the electronic media should be allowed to transmit a live broadcast of proceedings.The trial has far reaching implications for Zuma’s career.The touted successor for the presidency after Mbeki steps down in 2009, it was widely believed that Zuma could find himself in the dock if Shaik is convicted.But Judge Hilary Squires yesterday warned that the trial was “not a commission of inquiry” into South Africa’s multi-billion-dollar arms deal, in which Shaik has been implicated and which is tied to Zuma.”The Deputy President is not on trial,” said Squires as proceedings got underway adding that anything that implied it “is irrelevant and inadmissible.””It should be clearly understood that the summary of fact is not established fact and unless proven it should not be regarded as truth,” the judge said.The prosecution on Monday dropped corruption charges against French arms company Thint, which was listed as one of the co-accused.The charges against Thint, the South African subsidiary of Thales International – formerly known as Thomson-CSF – were dropped in return for confirmation from its director Alain Thetard that he was the author of a document that allegedly records a bribe offer to Zuma.Shaik allegedly brokered the deal between Zuma and Thint.-Nampa-AFP