Arrest warrant issued after ex-South African President skipped corruption court case

Former South African leader Jacob Zuma has caused outrage after failing to appear in court to face long-standing money laundering charges.

His legal team claim he is seeking treatment for ill health at a military hospital broad, but a judge presiding over the case suggested his sick note from the doctor was fabricated.

No details have been given about the severity of his illness and medical records were not provided to the court.

Prosecutors argued it was a criminal offence not to fully explain an absence and Judge Dhaya Pillay said she had ‘no choice’ but to issue an arrest warrant.

Zuma, who held office from 2009 to 2018, faces charges of fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to a $2.5bn (£1.98bn) arms deal in the late 1990s.

He is accused of receiving bribes from French arms manufacturer Thales through his former financial adviser Schabir Shaik, who was convicted of corruption in 2005.

The 78-year-old denies draining billions from the country’s exchequer and claims accusations against him are politically motivated.

Charges were brought against him after he was ousted by members of his own his own African National Congress (ACN) party in 2018, following a bitter internal battle.

His nine-year presidency was dogged by a series of corruption related scandals and he is blamed for tarnishing the image of a democratic and economically powerful South Africa crafted under Nelson Mandela.

Zuma first faced charges over a decade ago, but they were thrown out by the prosecution, paving the way for him to become leader.

His past court appearances were marked by defiant speeches and singing and dancing for crowds of supporters.

However, he has faded into the background as his legal challenges to the corruption charges have faltered.

The arrest warrant does not come into effect until the case resumes on May 6.