The Pietermaritzburg High Court has rejected a joint bid by former president Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales to have corruption charges against them permanently dropped.
Thales filed a fresh application earlier this year, with Zuma joining the motion.
He argued that if the company were to be acquitted, he too should walk free.
Their legal teams claimed that the deaths of two key witnesses, meant crucial evidence could no longer be presented or challenged in court.
But Judge Nkosinathi Chili dismissed the argument.
The State maintained that it still has credible witnesses available, including Zuma’s former financial adviser, Shabir Shaik.
Picture: Presidency
