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Zuma to appeal on documents
02/04/2007 20:26 - (SA)
Durban - African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thint are to appeal against the Durban High Court's decision to allow prosecutors to ask authorities in Mauritius to release documents about meetings believed to relate to arms-deal corruption.
Speaking on Monday afternoon shortly after Judge Phillip Levensohn handed down his decision in Durban High Court, Zuma's attorney, Michael Hulley, said they would lodge an application for leave to appeal against the decision within the next week.
Hulley said he "had an opportunity to brief" Zuma about Judge Levensohn's decision and the ANC deputy president was "disappointed".
He said it "would be improper and premature" to indicate which points of Levensohn's ruling would be contested in an appeal.
Company also will appeal
Zuma's legal team has 14 days in which to lodge their appeal and Hulley indicated it would be lodged during the course of next week.
If Judge Levensohn rejects the appeal, then Zuma can petition the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein.
Ajay Sooklal, the attorney for Thint, also confirmed that the company would lodge an appeal.
Sooklal said: "We are of the view that the judgment merits an appeal."
He said Thint would lodge its appeal within the "next 15 working days".
The documents the State seeks from Mauritius include the 2000 diary of Alain Thetard, the former chief executive of Thales International's South African subsidiary Thint (Pty) Ltd, which reportedly details a meeting in March 2000 between him, Zuma and Shaik.
The NPA alleges that an agreement on a R500 000-a-year bribe for Zuma was reached at this meeting.
- SAPA
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