State accuses Zuma of delay tactics in corruption trial

Zuma is facing 16 charges of fraud, corruption, and racketeering related to the 1999 arms deal.

He appeared virtually in a sitting of the court on Monday to request a postponement of his special application for an acquittal. 

Zuma's lawyers, advocate Dali Mpofu and Thabani Masuku, said it would be unfair for the matter to be heard on a virtual platform as Zuma has the right to a trial being conducted in his presence.

Mpofu told the court Zuma has already been convicted and sentenced by the Constitutional Court in absentia.

Masuku based his argument on the difficulties of consulting his client. He said it would be difficult to conduct a trial on a virtual platform when Zuma is in prison in Escourt, Mpofu in Johannesburg, and the entire legal team is scattered across the country. 

Masuku said consulting with Zuma over the phone would not be sufficient. 

Advocate Wim Trengrove, for the state, labeled the application and the special plea for an acquittal as delay tactics. 

"The accused has for more than 10 years taken every point in the book to avoid having his day in the court. He desperately seeks to avoid answer the charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering made against him.

"He raises objections, again and again, the objections raised today are objects which were raised and decided against him by the Supreme Court of Appeal in spy tapes case and by the full bench in the stay of prosecution," said Trengrove.

He said 135 paragraphs of Zuma's heads of argument in his special plea are cut and paste from his application for rescission at the Constitutional Court. 

Trengrove said the decision on whether the matter must be held virtually lies with Judge Piet Koen but pointed out that Zuma relies on a law that speaks about oral evidence when he does not propose to do so. 

He said Zuma instead wants to put prosecutor, Advocate Billy Downer, under interrogation as part of his recusal application.

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