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The South African opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed documents with the High Court in Pretoria to overturn the medical parole granted to former President Jacob Zuma, who is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court. court.
The party wants the chief of corrections, Arthur Fraser – a strong ally of Zuma – to explain why he overturned the decision of the medical parole board not to release the former president after serving 58 days of his sentence.
Zuma’s corruption trial, which was scheduled to resume last Friday, has been postponed until September 21.
He must appear in person and then before the High Court in Pietermaritzburg and provide medical evidence if he requests a further delay.
Zuma was still in the hospital five days after his parole.
DA chief John Steenhuisen said their request to quash parole goes beyond Zuma.
The party hopes that the Zondo Commission report on the state capture will result in the imprisonment of a number of ANC cadres.
It was Zuma’s refusal to appear before this commission that led him to be jailed for contempt of court.
No “get out of jail free” cards
“We don’t want the ANC to be prepared to hand over ‘get out of jail without’ cards to ensure their people are not sentenced to the sentences they deserve for the pain and suffering and damage they have inflicted to the body politic, ”Steenhuisen said. .
In requesting Fraser’s appearance before the parliamentary committee, the prosecutor said he was not seeking to infringe Zuma’s right to privacy regarding his medical condition.
“We want a record of Fraser’s decision and the making process,” Steenhuisen said.
“If he exercises public power, he must explain what justified the annulment of the finding of the medical board of conditional release.
“He is not a doctor and the board is uniquely qualified to make medical decisions.”
Medical parole board
Medical parole board was established to prevent a repeat of the 2009 fiasco when Zuma’s financial adviser Shabir Shaik was medically released after serving two years and four months of a 15-year sentence for fraud involving funds from South Africa’s multibillion rand weapons. purchase transaction.
Shaik was pictured playing golf shortly after being free
Zuma’s corruption trial involves 16 counts of fraud, money laundering and embezzlement of the same arms purchase funds.
Before this trial begins, Judge Koen must deal with Zuma’s plea for Public Prosecutor Bill Downer to recuse himself.
Zuma alleges that Downer is biased and determined to get him sentenced.
Legal analysts say South Africa’s conflicting legal system forces Downer to do everything in his power to secure a conviction.
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