‘Cash-strapped’ Zuma too broke to fight prosecution
Lawyer Michael Hulley says Zuma has terminated counsel’s brief because of uncertainty about whether the state will continue to fund his legal case
Three months after leaving the highest office in the country, former president Jacob Zuma is said not to have the money to keep fighting his prosecution for fraud, corruption, money laundering and racketeering. His lawyer, Michael Hulley, said on Tuesday that Zuma had terminated counsel’s brief. He said this was because of “the Presidency’s attitude” towards the application brought by the DA and uncertainty about whether the state would continue to fund his legal case. “Until this question is determined by the courts, Mr Zuma simply does not have the means to engage with the court processes regarding his prosecution,” said Hulley. Zuma left office in February with full benefits. He is entitled to his R2.87m annual salary for life, medical aid and his pension payout. In March, the DA lodged a court application to have Zuma pay back to the Treasury the R15.3m spent trying to avoid him having to face 16 charges. Earlier in 2018, in response to a question in Parliament, President Cyril ...
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