State can have Mauritius docs
2007-11-08 13:02
Bloemfontein - An appeal by ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma and arms company Thint aimed at thwarting an attempt by prosecutors to get hold of documents being held by Mauritius authorities - which reportedly detail meetings where South Africa's arms deal was discussed - has failed.
The Supreme court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein ruled on Thursday that a "letter of request" to the authorities in Mauritius to furnish the documents had been "properly issued".
Zuma, Thint Holdings (Southern Africa) (Pty) Ltd and Thint (Pty) Ltd had appealed against a Durban High Court decision to issue the letter. They contended the Durban court was not authorised by legislation - the International Co-operation in Criminal Matters Act No 75 of 1996 - to issue the letter of request.
The documents were seized in Mauritius under a warrant issued in the island state.
South African prosecutors argued they needed the documents for use as evidence against Zuma and Thint should they be tried in the future.
The SCA held that the letter had been properly issued and, in addition, that Zuma and Thint had no standing in law to contest the actions of the judge of the Durban court.
- SAPA