French firm Thales argues reinstatement of arms deal case is unlawful
The French arms company accused of bribing former president Jacob Zuma argues that the National Prosecuting Authority has violated its rights to a fair trial, and wants a court to rule that the state’s order to reinstate corruption charges against it is unlawful. Thales vice-president of dispute resolution Christine Guerrier, however, emphasises in papers before the high court in Durban that “in this application Thales does not adduce evidence and/or advance argument as regards its guilt or innocence in respect of the charges”. “Thales’s trial prejudice arises, inter alia, as a consequence of the long history of the matter, and the fact that its principal employees/officials involved in the events underpinning the charges are not available to provide it with instructions or are available to assist it in presenting its defence at trial”. Thales was formerly known as Thompson-CSF and scored a R2.6bn contract to provide four navy frigates to SA’s government as part of the wider R60bn a...
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