Zuma lawyers in touch with NPA

2009-01-13 09:31

Johannesburg - Lawyers for ANC leader Jacob Zuma have sent a letter to the National Prosecuting Authority declaring their intention to make representations in his corruption case, the NPA confirmed on Tuesday.

NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said it received the correspondence from Zuma's lawyers following a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment in favour of the National Director of Public Prosecutions on Monday.

"We have received correspondence from Mr Zuma's lawyers where they have declared an intention to make representations," said Tlali.

"We have since said we will consider the representations as and when they make it to us."

The SCA ruled that there was no legal obligation on the NDPP's part to invite Zuma to make representations in his fraud and corruption case.

Nicholson judgment

Its ruling overturned part of Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson's judgment that was handed down last September and which effectively halted Zuma's prosecution.

The SCA also criticised Nicholson's references to possible political meddling in the decision to re-charge Zuma, saying he overstepped his mark in making those findings.

Zuma was charged in 2005, but the case was struck from the roll in 2006.

He was then re-charged for fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering in December 2007.

- SAPA