Zuma's application for Downer recusal dismissed
The corruption trial against Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales will go ahead.
That's what the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled on Tuesday morning.
Judge Piet Koen has dismissed the former president's special plea application to have state prosecutor Billy Downer recused from the case.
Delivering a summarised version of his judgment, Koen said the matter must go to trial.
"The written judgement accordingly concludes with the following order being granted: 1. The special please is dismissed.
"2. The matter is directed to proceed to trial in respect to the not guilty pleas of Mr Zuma and Thales. 3. Paragraph 3 of the court order of 10 August 2021 is now clarified in paragraph 284 above stands."
The former president's legal team argued that Downer cannot be impartial, and accused him of leaking confidential information to journalists, among other claims.
The state denied the allegations.
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