Schabir Shaik: I cannot refuse to testify in Zuma’s corruption case

Convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik is reportedly preparing to turn State witness as the possibility looms that President Jacob Zuma will stand trial on fraud and corruption charges over the 1999 multibillion-rand arms deal scandal.

This after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein on Friday dismissed an appeal by Zuma and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the spy tapes saga.

Zuma and the NPA asked for leave to appeal a judgment of the Gauteng North High Court last year, which ruled in favour of the Democratic Alliance (DA), setting aside the 2009 decision by the NPA’s former director of public prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe to discontinue the corruption case against Zuma on the basis of irrationality.

Many of the charges of racketeering, corruption, fraud and money laundering against Zuma relate to his dealings with Shaik, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2005 on similar charges. He appealed but lost and finally went to prison in 2007.

After spending two years behind bars, Shaik was released on medical parole as he was deemed ‘terminally ill’.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Tribune, Shaik said he would not refuse to testify should the NPA reinstate the charges.

“Of course I cannot refuse to testify if I am called to do so. But that does not mean I am going to do so in a vindictive manner. I will be guided by my conscience and welcome the opportunity to put certain aspects of my relationship and dealings with the president into perspective, which I did not have the opportunity to do previously,” said Shaik.

“Perhaps it would bring closure once and for all and give the president his day in court to explain matters for himself.”

City Press reports that, Zuma’s lawyers want him to be given time to study the SCA’s judgment before making representations to the public prosecuting body on why the charges should not be re-established. They reportedly also want the NPA not to serve an indictment on the president or re-enrol the case before the representations are considered.

NPA spokesperson Luvuyo Mfaku said Abrahams was considering the lawyers’ request and would respond “in the next few days”.

Shaik said his testimony, if he is called on by the NPA, would not be aimed at settling scores.

“I’ve matured over the years and with each passing year you learn to let go of the bitterness. I no longer have the relationship I had with the president before my conviction. But I have closure and any testimony I give will be based on facts, not on any act of vengeance,” he said.

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