State capture inquiry begins

Bloomberg reports (business, US section),


Gupta Brothers Accused of Defrauding South Africa Arrested in UAE​

  • Atul and Rajesh Gupta held, authorities discussing way forward
  • Guptas accused of stealing from state-owned companies

Two members of the Gupta family have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates, the biggest step yet in South Africa’s fight to bring the kingpins accused of orchestrating the looting of its state companies to account.

Rajesh and Atul Gupta were detained by UAE law-enforcement authorities and discussions are taking place on the way forward, South Africa’s Justice Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

...

The arrests come a year after the UAE ratified an extradition treaty with South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration first asked the Emiratis to extradite members of the Gupta family in 2018, and Interpol placed the two brothers on its most-wanted list in February.

...

Ramaphosa won’t comment on the arrests, his spokesman Vincent Magwenya said by text message.
 
I see the US is now quickly picking up on the news and reporting it. That extradition treaty better be in place and meet the criterion. In the case this extradition gets stuck in limbo we will ever remain the world's circus. We don't have a good record come to this...
 
I see the US is now quickly picking up on the news and reporting it. That extradition treaty better be in place and meet the criterion. In the case this extradition gets stuck in limbo we will ever remain the world's circus. We don't have a good record come to this...
If we can`t even lock our own Zuma up, then we sure won`t be able to lock the Guptas up.
 
If we can`t even lock our own Zuma up, then we sure won`t be able to lock the Guptas up.

There are steps here. First we need to secure their extradition, then we can start to talk about the rest. I listened to the SABC a minute or so ago, and this lady highlights valuable points,


happy to see the SABC being on the ball here.
 
Financial Times:


Reuters:


Al Jazeera:


BBC:


I am pretty sure this is worldwide news by now, Cyril will now need to prove his word, to quote FT,

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to clean up the state and repair damage to institutions hollowed out by graft.
 
Financial Times:


Reuters:


Al Jazeera:


BBC:


I am pretty sure this is worldwide news by now, Cyril will now need to prove his word, to quote FT,
The world is now watching. Interesting times ahead.

I’m still surprised the Guptas could not buy their way out of this?
 
I am not going to quote this DM article, but they have captured all of my views in one article,


well, almost all of them. I do expect shenanigans as per the usual.
 
I am not going to quote this DM article, but they have captured all of my views in one article,


well, almost all of them. I do expect shenanigans as per the usual.
On face value that DM piece does seem to be accurate but one would have to wonder what the UAE authorities are going to do with them if they are not going to extradite them to SA.
 
JUST IN | Zuma issued with certificate that allows private prosecution against prosecutor Billy Downer

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Kwazulu-Natal has issued former president Jacob Zuma with a nolle prosequi certificate after declining to prosecute Adv Billy Downer SC "due to insufficiency of evidence".

The certificate allows someone with direct interest in a case to pursue private prosecution.

News24 previously reported Zuma's lawyers had written to prosecutions boss Shamila Batohi to demand she remove Downer as the lead prosecutor in his corruption case.

"The NPA agrees with the DPP that the charges laid against Adv Downer are baseless and cannot be sustained, hence her decision not to prosecute him," NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said on Tuesday.

"Adv Downer has the NPA’s full support and will continue to lead the prosecution team against Mr Zuma and Thales."

- Jenna Verster

Follow News24 for further updates
Legal expert @Fulcrum29, what the **** does this mean?
 
Legal expert @Fulcrum29, what the **** does this mean?

Legal expert :ROFL: It means that there is now a higher possibility that the NPA will appoint a new leading prosecutor. Zuma and co. did do the application, so there is nothing odd here. I don't see Downer continue his role with a concurrent case he is implicated in.

The only thing I am a expert at is armchairs, and I am not even good at that.
 
It basically means that Jacob can attempt to prosecute Billy downer privately...

It does mean he will do so and then try claim that since such an event is underway that he can't be the prosecutor.
Oh ok, so a Zuma win then?

Darn.
 

“The NPA agrees with the DPP that the charges laid against Adv Downer are baseless and cannot be sustained, hence her decision not to prosecute him,” Mhaga said.

Mhaga said Downer has the NPA’s full support and will continue to lead the prosecution team against Zuma and Thales.

“Mr Zuma has the right to pursue a private prosecution and due process should be followed. Adv Downer will of course defend himself in terms of the various legal remedies available to him. The NPA will support Adv Downer in defending himself against what we consider to be an abusive private prosecution,” Mhaga said.

Mhaga said as the NPA progresses with prosecutions of corruption and other serious economic crimes, particularly against the rich and the powerful, it expects that there will be attacks against NPA staff, in an attempt to evade justice.

“We will not be deterred by such attacks. Adv Downer remains focused in ensuring that the trial against Mr Zuma and Thales resumes on August 15 2022.”

Is the NPA willing to risk this? They have other prosecutors, but we all know that Downer isn't the target. Zuma is targeting the NPA through Downer in order to discredit the state agency. It is a complicated road ahead. I don’t know how many days Zuma have to take his petition to the ConCourt, I guess 15 days, but I am unsure. They would need to act with haste against Downer to turn this into a usable Stalingrad.

For those who wish to see Zuma prosecuted, you all better hope that should this matter go to the ConCourt that it is vented by July 31st. All I know is that Koen can't allow a private prosecution against Downer as another appeal to delay the arms deal trial.

Personally, I do see the possibility that Downer might step down to allow the arms deal case to run its course without any more delay. Thales can argue that there isn’t a will to see this prosecution through… It has been long now.
 
I wonder how much USD Zuma has under his mattress... even if his buddies doing this for free, it takes time from other paying clients.
 
R15 million was used to service the contract, the remainder of R172m was pure money pocketed. The officials involved got off literally scot free.

1 was found guilty of Lack of oversight. Got 3 months upaid (SCM Supervisor). 2 were dismissed (SCM Buyers). 3 resigned after they got suspended (Head of SCM, Supply Chain Operations Manager, and an SCM Buyer). The CFO's case is still underway (last time I checked)
 
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