PIETERMARITZBURG, South Africa: A judge dismissed Wednesday corruption charges against former South African deputy president Jacob Zuma, improving his chances in his bid to succeed president Thabo Mbeki.
South African high court judge Herbert Msimang ruled that the state's case against Zuma "went from one disaster to another" and failed to follow proper guidelines.
The prosecution lawyers had asked the judge, trying Zuma and French arms company Thint Holdings, to delay the proceedings until next year as they wanted more time to prepare. But, the judge did not accede to the demand, saying he had no choice but to dismiss the charges.
He said, "There were clear guidelines, which should have informed their decision to proceed. They ignored those guidelines at their own peril."
The ruling does not mean the case has been totally dismissed. The prosecutors can refile the charges at a later date.
Zuma, 64, was dismissed from his position as the country's deputy president in 2005 after a judge found he had a "generally corrupt" relationship with his financial advisor Schabir Shaik. Later, a case was filed against him charging him with receiving bribes from the French arms company in a controversial arms deal.
Zuma has denied the charges and described the case as part of a political conspiracy to prevent him from assuming the presidency of the country.
Early 2006, he was acquitted of rape charges in an unrelated case.
