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FILE | Former president Jacob Zuma in court.
The High Court in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal has dismissed an application by former President Jacob Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thales for leave to appeal a ruling that cleared the way for their arms deal corruption trial to proceed.
Judge Nkosinathi Chili made the ruling on Wednesday morning.
In his ruling, Judge Chili said Zuma and Thales failed to convince the court that another court would come to a different conclusion on their attempt to halt the prosecution.
The application for leave to appeal follows Judge Chili’s June ruling last year, in which he dismissed their bid for a permanent stay of prosecution.
Thales had argued that it would not receive a fair trial because two key defence witnesses, former directors of the company in South Africa, have since passed away.
However, Judge Chili found that the trial court would be best placed to assess any alleged prejudice to the accused after hearing all the evidence presented during the criminal trial.
The ruling means the decades-old arms deal matter involving Zuma and Thales is set to move a step closer to trial.
Zuma and Thales face charges of racketeering, corruption, fraud and money laundering related to the 1990 controversial multi-billion-rand arms deal.
LIVESTREAM |Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling on Zuma, Thales leave to appeal matter:
