Jacob Zuma: Arrest Warrant Issued Against Former South African President

Former President Jacob Zuma is accused of being absent from his corruption trial Tuesday, which has been suspended until May 6.

The state has asked High Court judge Dhaya Pillay to issue an arrest warrant against Zuma.

The legal team of the former head of state presented a medical file to request the absence of his client at the Pietermaritzburg trial.

Zuma’s defence reported that his client had been out of the country since January 23 for medical care abroad.

Billy Downer, the public prosecutor, asked the defence to provide further clarification on the former head of state’s illness.

President Zuma leaving the Durban Court of First Instance on June 8, 2018.

In response, Zuma’s lawyer Dan Mantsha said his health problem was a matter of national security since his doctor was attached to the military.

“It is absurd for the state to doubt the admissibility of the medical note stamped by our own military official,” argued lawyer Mantsha.

On the other hand, the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) argued that his “sickness note” was inadmissible because the date on it appeared to have been changed.

The warrant, granted by judge Dhaya Pillay, will only take effect if the court determines that Mr. Zuma has given false testimony about his medical condition or does not appear in court on May 6.

The former South African president is being prosecuted on 16 counts, including fraud, corruption and racketeering.

He received 783 payments in 1999 to protect the French arms company Thales from an investigation into a multi-billion rand arms market.

The bribes were said to have been received through his former financial advisor Shabir Shaik, who has also been convicted of the same crimes.