Zuma's fight against Karyn Maughan and Billy Downer to continue in December
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When former president Jacob Zuma appears in court in his arms deal-related fraud and corruption trial, he sits in the dock at the Pietermaritzburg high court.
On Monday lead prosecutor in the case Billy Downer and seasoned News24 journalist Karyn Maughan found themselves sitting in that very same dock on the first day of Zuma’s “private prosecution” of them. This follows allegations that they broke the law when Downer “leaked” court documents to Maughan which disclosed his private medical condition. Zuma sat with his lawyers.
Both Downer and Maughan have filed applications — to be heard by a civil court judge — in a bid to have the charges dropped, both claiming an abuse of process.
The two applications, it emerged on Monday, will now be heard together in early December — and the private prosecution will be put on hold until the outcome of those, in early February.
On Monday lead prosecutor in the case Billy Downer and seasoned News24 journalist Karyn Maughan found themselves sitting in that very same dock on the first day of Zuma’s “private prosecution” of them. This follows allegations that they broke the law when Downer “leaked” court documents to Maughan which disclosed his private medical condition. Zuma sat with his lawyers.
Both Downer and Maughan have filed applications — to be heard by a civil court judge — in a bid to have the charges dropped, both claiming an abuse of process.
The two applications, it emerged on Monday, will now be heard together in early December — and the private prosecution will be put on hold until the outcome of those, in early February.