S.Africa's Zuma off the hook as graft case is dropped (Roundup)

Apr 6, 2009, 11:14 GMT

Johannesburg - South Africa's top prosecutor announced on Monday the state was dropping its corruption case against ruling African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma, clearing the way for him to take power next month without the spectre of a trial.

The head of the National Prosecuting Authority said he took the decision after weeks of consultations with Zuma's lawyers, who submitted evidence revealing a 'serious abuse of process' relating to the timing of the charges.

Zuma had been charged with corruption, racketeering, fraud and money laundering in connection with a 1990s state arms deal. The charges were laid after he defeated ex-president Thabo Mbeki in an ANC leadership vote in December 2007.

Acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe told a press conference he had concluded it was 'neither possible nor desirable for the NPA to continue with the prosecution of Mr Zuma'.

He based his decision, which he called the most difficult he had ever taken, on secret tapes of conversations between the former lead investigator in the case and a former prosecutor, which suggested the timing of the charges was aimed at frustrating Zuma's political ambitions.

The NPA head however discounted allegations made by Zuma's supporters that Mbeki himself meddled in the case, saying: 'We could not find any trace indicating that the president was involved in all of this.'

Zuma, 66, is poised to become president of the country in a few short weeks, following general elections on April 22 that the ANC is poised easily to win.

Had the NPA maintained the case it built against him over eight years he would have stood trial in August.

The charges related to a string of payments totalling around 4 million rand that Zuma received over a 10-year period from his businessman friend Schabir Shaik, who was convicted of fraud over the multi-billion-dollar arms deal.

Zuma was deputy president of the country for part of the period covered by the payment, but Mbeki fired him in 2005 on suspicion of corruption.

The question of whether to withdraw the charges, and save Zuma from having to defend himself in an open court, has deeply divided South Africans.

The NPA's decision came as little surprise, following weeks of media reports forecasting such a move. Hundreds of Zuma supporters in Johannesburg stood by for a celebration in a central square.

But analysts complained that Mpshe's explanation, which did not touch on the substance of the case, was flimsy and smacked of political pressure. Mpshe himself was emphatic that the decision did not amount to an acquittal.

Opposition parties had warned that evidence of a political motivation in the case did not mean Zuma was innocent and that he would continue to be tainted by the allegations unless he cleared his name in court.

Zuma was first charged in 2005. The charges were reinstated twice after being set aside twice by the courts on technicalities.

Zuma's supporters in the ANC and allied trade union movement and Communist Party had argued he was being hounded by investigators loyal to Mbeki, who was ousted as president by the ANC last September.