Zuma takes Billy Downer to court in private prosecution for leaking personal information

FORMER President Jacob Zuma has launched private prosecution of State Advocate Billy Downer and News24 legal journalist Karyn Maughan.

Zuma alleges that Downer leaked confidential medical records to journalist Karen Maughan, who is the second accused in the matter.

The hearing is expected to take place at the Pietermaritzburg High Court next month.

Zuma obtained a private prosecution certificate after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in KwaZulu-Natal declined to prosecute Downer.

Downer is the chief prosecutor in Zuma’s corruption trial relating to the arms deal with French arms company Thales.

Zuma is facing charges of corruption, racketeering, and money laundering relating to the 1999 multi-billion-rand arms deal.

In May last year, Zuma filed a court application demanding that Downer recuse himself from the case as he might compromise the trial.

The application has since been dismissed.

The Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi said Downer is not an ethical man