Zuma to consider court judgement

President Jacob Zuma will give consideration to a court judgement and its consequences regarding a 2009 decision to drop corruption charges against him, the Presidency said on Friday.

"As a party to the proceedings, the President has noted the decision of the court," presidential spokesperson Bongani Majola said.

This came after the High Court in Pretoria ruled on Friday that a 2009 decision by National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) former head Mokotedi Mpshe to drop corruption charges against Zuma should be reviewed.

The decision by Mpshe was irrational as he acted "alone and impulsively", the court ruled.

Mpshe should have followed the legal processes on emergence of the "spy tapes" and allow the courts to decide if the charges should have been withdrawn, Judge Aubrey Ledwaba said.

The spy tapes allegedly contain records showing why a decision was made for charges on over 700 counts of corruption against Zuma to be withdrawn, clearing the way for him to become president after the 2009 elections.

The NPA and its current head Shaun Abrahams must now decide if it will recharge Zuma with the original 783 counts of corruption, the court ruled.

Zuma was facing corruption charges relating to the procurement of arms. There were allegations of bribery, corruption and fraud in the 1999 multi-billion rand arms deal.

Zuma's legal team had contested the charges through confidential representations submitted to the NPA in February 2009.

The High Court in Pietermaritzburg formally withdrew the charges during April 2009 and as such there is no pending litigation before court against Zuma, the Presidency said.

Source: XINHUA