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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Zuma corruption charges dropped | Zuma corruption charges dropped |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Prosecutors in South Africa have announced they are dropping corruption charges against African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma. | Prosecutors in South Africa have announced they are dropping corruption charges against African National Congress (ANC) leader Jacob Zuma. |
| Chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe said phone-tap evidence suggested political interference in the investigation. | Chief prosecutor Mokotedi Mpshe said phone-tap evidence suggested political interference in the investigation. |
| Mr Zuma has always denied the allegations of graft, racketeering and money-laundering in connection to a multimillion dollar arms deal in 1999. | Mr Zuma has always denied the allegations of graft, racketeering and money-laundering in connection to a multimillion dollar arms deal in 1999. |
| He is expected to become president after general elections on 22 April. | He is expected to become president after general elections on 22 April. |
| The BBC's Alexis Akwagyiram says the ANC office in Polokwane greeted with jubilation the decision, which was broadcast live on radio and television. | The BBC's Alexis Akwagyiram says the ANC office in Polokwane greeted with jubilation the decision, which was broadcast live on radio and television. |
| A party bus in the town turned up with a sound system, they cordoned off the road and people started dancing with banners. | A party bus in the town turned up with a sound system, they cordoned off the road and people started dancing with banners. |
| Secret recordings | Secret recordings |
| The chief prosecutor said the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) had obtained recordings of phone conversations which suggested the timing of the decision to charge Mr Zuma in 2007 had been manipulated. | The chief prosecutor said the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) had obtained recordings of phone conversations which suggested the timing of the decision to charge Mr Zuma in 2007 had been manipulated. |
| Views from Polokwane on dropping Jacob Zuma's graft caseIn pictures | Views from Polokwane on dropping Jacob Zuma's graft caseIn pictures |
| "I have come to the difficult conclusion that it is neither possible nor desirable for the NPA to continue with the prosecution of Mr Zuma," Mr Mphse said. | "I have come to the difficult conclusion that it is neither possible nor desirable for the NPA to continue with the prosecution of Mr Zuma," Mr Mphse said. |
| "It is a difficult decision because the NPA has expended considerable resources on this matter, and it has been conducted by a committed and dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators who have handled a difficult case with utmost professionalism and who have not been implicated in any misconduct," added Mr Mpshe. | "It is a difficult decision because the NPA has expended considerable resources on this matter, and it has been conducted by a committed and dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators who have handled a difficult case with utmost professionalism and who have not been implicated in any misconduct," added Mr Mpshe. |
| The chief prosecutor read out transcripts of recorded conversations between former NPA head Bulelani Ngcuka and Leonard McCarthy, the man who led the now disbanded anti-corruption unit known as the Scorpions. | The chief prosecutor read out transcripts of recorded conversations between former NPA head Bulelani Ngcuka and Leonard McCarthy, the man who led the now disbanded anti-corruption unit known as the Scorpions. |
| Mr Mpshe said the pair had discussed timing charges against Mr Zuma to cause political damage. | Mr Mpshe said the pair had discussed timing charges against Mr Zuma to cause political damage. |
| "Mr McCarthy used the legal process for a purpose outside and extraneous to the prosecution itself," he said. "It was pure abuse of process," Mr Mpshe added. | "Mr McCarthy used the legal process for a purpose outside and extraneous to the prosecution itself," he said. "It was pure abuse of process," Mr Mpshe added. |
| Loose ends | Loose ends |
| Mr Zuma was first charged in 2005, but has never faced trial. | Mr Zuma was first charged in 2005, but has never faced trial. |
| The charges were dropped the following year, but he was recharged 10 days after he defeated former South African President Thabo Mbeki in elections to be the ANC's leader in December 2007. | The charges were dropped the following year, but he was recharged 10 days after he defeated former South African President Thabo Mbeki in elections to be the ANC's leader in December 2007. |
| Last year a judge ruled that there had been political meddling in the case, but the NPA successfully appealed. | Last year a judge ruled that there had been political meddling in the case, but the NPA successfully appealed. |
| ZUMA TIMELINE June 2005: Sacked as deputy presidentOctober 2005: Charged with corruption December 2005: Charged with rapeApril 2006: Acquitted of rape chargesSeptember 2006: Corruption case collapses December 2007: Elected ANC president; re-charged with corruption shortly afterwardsSeptember 2008: Judge rules corruption case cannot proceedJanuary 2009:Prosecutors win appeal, opening the way for Zuma to be recharged6 April 2009: Prosecutors drop charges after receiving new phone-tap evidence22 April 2009: Elections due Victory for Zuma's hard-core fans Timeline: Zuma's legal problems S Africa's controversial arms deal | ZUMA TIMELINE June 2005: Sacked as deputy presidentOctober 2005: Charged with corruption December 2005: Charged with rapeApril 2006: Acquitted of rape chargesSeptember 2006: Corruption case collapses December 2007: Elected ANC president; re-charged with corruption shortly afterwardsSeptember 2008: Judge rules corruption case cannot proceedJanuary 2009:Prosecutors win appeal, opening the way for Zuma to be recharged6 April 2009: Prosecutors drop charges after receiving new phone-tap evidence22 April 2009: Elections due Victory for Zuma's hard-core fans Timeline: Zuma's legal problems S Africa's controversial arms deal |
| With only a few months to go to the elections, Mr Zuma then lodged a legal request for the charges to be reviewed. | With only a few months to go to the elections, Mr Zuma then lodged a legal request for the charges to be reviewed. |
| The BBC's Africa analyst Martin Plaut says despite mountains of evidence, South African justice has proved incapable of dealing with a case that has been wrapped up in the internal workings of the governing party - the ANC. | The BBC's Africa analyst Martin Plaut says despite mountains of evidence, South African justice has proved incapable of dealing with a case that has been wrapped up in the internal workings of the governing party - the ANC. |
| The prosecutor provided evidence that his predecessor had manipulated the case to suite the ANC, yet said plainly that he had no evidence that this had been done at the behest of Mr Mbeki. | The prosecutor provided evidence that his predecessor had manipulated the case to suite the ANC, yet said plainly that he had no evidence that this had been done at the behest of Mr Mbeki. |
| Mr Plaut says the long saga has left more loose ends and damaged reputations than any in the country's recent history. | Mr Plaut says the long saga has left more loose ends and damaged reputations than any in the country's recent history. |
| Despite the outcome of the affair it is likely to taint Mr Zuma's presidency and the governance of the country as the ANC leader has not had a chance to clear his name in court and the country will not forget the serious allegations, he says. | Despite the outcome of the affair it is likely to taint Mr Zuma's presidency and the governance of the country as the ANC leader has not had a chance to clear his name in court and the country will not forget the serious allegations, he says. |
| There is expected to be an outcry from other political parties to the news. | There is expected to be an outcry from other political parties to the news. |
| They have previously condemned any move to drop proceedings against the ANC leader, saying it would be a clear interference in the judiciary by the government. | They have previously condemned any move to drop proceedings against the ANC leader, saying it would be a clear interference in the judiciary by the government. |
| Earlier, opposition Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi told the BBC: "If the charges are just dropped when there is no trial it seems to me the stink of what they accused him of will not go away." | Earlier, opposition Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi told the BBC: "If the charges are just dropped when there is no trial it seems to me the stink of what they accused him of will not go away." |