Shaik in the dock
2005-02-21 08:33
Durban - Fraud and corruption accused Schabir Shaik is expected to take the stand in the Durban High Court on Monday morning.
Shaik's attorney Reeves Parsee said his client had to be the first defence witness unless there was a compelling reason to put someone in the witness box before him.
On Sunday, deputy president Jacob Zuma's spokesperson Lakela Kaunda said Zuma would not be in court because he had not been approached to be a witness in the case by either side.
Zuma's name is coupled to all charges against Shaik.
The charge of fraud relates to the irregular write-off of money in the books of his Nkobi group of companies, money which the State alleges was used to bankroll Zuma's expensive lifestyle.
Shaik said he and Zuma had a revolving loan agreement of R2m, which must still be proven.
Count two of corruption relates to what the State calls a "generally corrupt relationship" between the two men. The State said that in exchange for acting as Zuma's financial adviser and saving him from financial ruin, Shaik used their "political connectivity" to advance his business interests. He also tried to be chosen as a black economic empowerment partner in certain deals.
Fax admissible as evidence
Count three of corruption relates to an alleged bribe of R500 000 per annum which Shaik apparently solicited for Zuma from French Arms company Thomson CSF. This was in exchange for protection during investigations into alleged irregularities in South Africa's multi-billion rand arms deal.
In a development favourable to the State, Judge Hillary Squires ruled last week that an the encrypted fax authored by Thomson CSF's former South African boss Alain Thetard - and which records the "bribe" - was admissible as evidence.
Shaik's advocate, Francois van Zyl, SC told the court his client had no knowledge of a bribe and that talks between Shaik, Thetard and Zuma had been about donations for Zuma's Education Trust Fund.
Thetard, now in France, has refused to testify either for the State or for the defence.
The State closed its case last Thursday after Squires gave his judgment on the admissibility of the fax and other disputed documents.
- SAPA