Zuma Corruption Trial To Resume Amid Violent South Africa Protests

• The 79-year-old appeared in person for the opening and pleaded not guilty

The dragging corruption trial of South Africa’s jailed ex-president Jacob Zuma resumes on Monday despite deadly violence that swept the nation after his imprisonment in an unrelated case.

Zuma faces 16 charges of fraud, graft, and racketeering related to a 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats, and military gear from five European arms firms when he was South Africa’s deputy president.

He is accused of pocketing four million rand ($277,000) in bribes from one of the firms, French defence giant Thales, which has been charged with corruption and money laundering.

Read also: Riot Intensifies In S/Africa Over Imprisonment Of Ex-President Jacob Zuma

The trial started in May after numerous postponements and delays, as Zuma’s legal team worked fervently to have the charges dropped.

The 79-year-old appeared in person for the opening and pleaded not guilty.

Thales also said he is innocent with the next hearing was set for July 19.

According to AFP, things took a nasty turn when on June 29, Zuma was found guilty of contempt of South Africa’s top court for snubbing graft investigators probing his tenure as president. He was jailed a week later.

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