Johannesburg, Apr. 11, (dpa/GNA) - The repeatedly postponed corruption trial of former South African President Jacob Zuma finally began on Monday.
Zuma himself did not attend the opening at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg on Monday because, according to his defence lawyer, he suddenly fell ill shortly before the session was due to start.
The 79-year-old is accused of corruption, money laundering and fraud in connection with an arms deal before his term as president. He faces up to 25 years in prison. He denies the charges.
In addition to the current trial Zuma also has to answer to a commission of enquiry into corruption during his time in office, from 2009 to 2018. However, he failed to comply with several summonses, which resulted in a 15-month prison sentence being imposed on him.
That led to protests by supporters in his home coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in the country’s economic and political centre around Johannesburg and Pretoria.
According to official figures, at least 337 people were killed in last July’s looting and rioting, and there was damage to property costing hundreds of millions of dollars. South Africa’s army had to be mobilized to restore order.
GNA