Judge Koen recuses himself from Zuma corruption trial

Staff Reporter

PIETERMARITZBURG high court Judge, Piet Koen, has recused himself from hearing former president Jacob Zuma’s arms deal corruption trial.

Zuma and his co-accused, French company Thales, face charges related to fraud, corruption and money laundering in connection with the arms deal that took place in the 1990s.

Koen said on Monday that during earlier litigation in the trial he felt that he expressed strong views about various issues including his findings during the ‘special plea’ when he refused the defence application to remove advocate Billy Downer, SC, as prosecutor in the case; the fact that there were now a ‘unique’ and concerning situation where Downer is the subject of a private prosecution by Zuma in a pending matter, and his previous findings in respect of the alleged ‘leaking’ of Zuma’s confidential medical information to News24 journalist Karyn Maughan by Downer.

“The views I previously expressed will reasonably be