The state on Thursday concluded its argument in the Schabir Shaik fraud and corruption trial, saying the controversial encrypted fax is the truth and adds weight to the state’s case.
Prosecutor Billy Downer said Shaik’s excuse that he was trying to get a donation, and not a bribe for Deputy President Jacob Zuma, from French company Thomson CSF ”smacks of a version dreamt up to meet the state’s case and a recent fabrication”.
The fax was written by Alain Thetard, who was head of Thomson CSF in South Africa. It reports an alleged bribe of R500 000 a year for Zuma.
The state said the bribe was solicited by Shaik for Zuma from Thomson-CSF in exchange for protection during investigations into alleged irregularities in South Africa’s multibillion-rand arms purchase.
Downer told the court ”there was no reason to believe that Thetard would create a false document, far less one that so consistently accords with the surrounding circumstances”.
He said the fax was destined for internal use only. It was meant to be a confidential document and was therefore encrypted.
Outside the Durban High Court, Shaik said he is relieved that the state’s case is over and that he has learnt to deal with its criticism of his character and personality.
He said he is happy that the judgement will be shown live on television and would have liked the closing arguments of both sides to be shown.
”It’s an important case. It deals with the deputy president and public funds,” said Shaik.
The defence is expected to start its closing argument on Friday. — Sapa