MOGOMOTSI MAGOME and GERALD IMRAY
FORMER South African President Jacob Zuma accepted more than 700 bribes over the course of a decade before he was president, including cash payments from French arms company Thales, prosecutors alleged on the first day of Zuma’s corruption trial on Wednesday.
Zuma, the president of Africa’s most developed economy from 2009 until he was forced out amid other graft scandals in 2018, was charged with multiple counts of corruption, as well as racketeering, fraud, tax evasion, and money laundering.
He pleaded not guilty to all counts and claimed the trial was politically motivated.
The 79-year-old Zuma, who wore a blue suit, red tie, and a face mask in court, also filed papers asking for the chief prosecutor to be removed from the case, claiming he was biased.
The judge said he would consider Zuma’s application.
Zuma could be jailed for 25 years if convicted.
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