JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – A South African investigation into corruption during Jacob Zuma’s time in power calls for the former president’s imprisonment for two years after he challenged a subpoena and court order to appear and testify.
In a constitutional court petition seen by Reuters, the “state capture” inquiry seeks an order that Zuma is guilty of contempt of court for failing to appear last week or testifying when instructed to do so.
The inquiry is examining allegations of high-level corruption during the Zuma period in power from 2009 to 2018.
Zuma denies any wrongdoing and did not cooperate with the investigation. His failure to appear last week occurred despite the inquiry calling on him to appear and the constitutional court instructing him to comply with the subpoena and to give evidence.
Zuma’s lawyer, Eric Mabuza, was unavailable when he called Reuters for comment.
The charges against Zuma include that he allowed businessmen close to him – brothers Atul, Ajay and Rajesh Gupta – to plunder state resources and influence politics.
The Guptas, who also deny wrongdoing, left South Africa after Zuma was deposed in a lawsuit orchestrated by allies of his successor Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa has been trying to restore investor confidence in Africa’s most industrialized nation. However, he faced opposition from a faction within the governing party, the African National Congress, which is still loyal to Zuma.
(Reporting by Alexander Winning; Editing by Mark Heinrich)