Zuma's special plea application could delay trial further: Legal expert
A legal expert believes the latest move by former president Jacob Zuma in his corruption trial is a delay tactic.
The trial in the Pietermaritzburg High Court was adjourned to next week Wednesday because Zuma's legal team wants to bring an application for the recusal of lead prosecutor, Advocate Billy Downer.
The court also heard Zuma intends pleading not guilty to the charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering relating to the multi-billion rand arms deal.
Lasanthan Pillay from Pillay Cohen Attorneys says the special plea is an extremely technical application.
"They have to show that there is some direct interest or that the prosecutors is actually conflicted in this matter.
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"They are either going to make representation to the national director of public prosecutions regarding why they want the prosecutor to recuse himself and they are also going to make an application to the court and advise the judge as to why the prosecutor should be recused.
"This application, therefore, could actually delay the matter even further because the trial will not be able to start if the special plea is still pending before the court."
Public Works Minister, Patricia De Lille, who was one of the whistle-blowers, will be the first witness to testify.
"It's been a long time, but you know the time has arrived finally for the former president to state his side in an open court of law and we must also respect his right."
