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 and has an agenda against Zuma.
“I can confirm that the prosecution of Billy Downer and Karyn Maughan, their appearance in court will be at the end of October. The two worked together to disclose information that belonged to the NPA without the permission of the NPA boss Shamila Batohi,” said Manyi.
The NPA said in a statement on Tuesday that it stood by Downer.
“The National Prosecuting Authority can confirm that Advocate Billy Downer SC was yesterday, 5 September 2022, served with a summons by the Sheriff in respect of charges relating to the alleged contravention of section 41(6) of the NPA Act. In terms of the said provision, the disclosure of certain information is prohibited,” said NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga in a statement.
“This follows the institution of a private prosecution by Mr Zuma, after the Director of Public Prosecutions in KwaZulu Natal, Adv E Zungu, issued a nolle prosequi certificate, following her decision not to prosecute Adv Downer on the alleged contravention.”
“The NPA and its leadership fully support Adv Downer as we believe that these charges are without merit. They are only designed to intimidate him in the prosecution of Mr Zuma, and to further delay the trial. The private prosecution amounts to abuse of process.”
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