Ethics Newsline®

DURBAN, South Africa
A close friend and former advisor of South Africa’s deputy president Jacob Zuma was convicted last week of corruption and fraud related to financial payments between the two men, possibly killing Zuma’s chance to take the presidency in 2009.

Citing “overwhelming” evidence, Judge Hillary Squires read his 165-page ruling on national television, finding Zuma’s former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik, guilty on two counts of corruption and one of fraud.

The conviction stems from roughly $180,000 in illegal kickbacks paid by Shaik in exchange for Zuma’s help in winning business deals, reported the Agence France-Presse.

Shaik also was convicted of attempting to broker an $80,000 bribe between French arms company Thomson-CSF in exchange for Zuma’s help in shielding the firm from investigation over a suspect arms deal, according to the AFP.

“The case is convincing and really overwhelming,” Squires wrote in his ruling, adding that there is compelling evidence of “a readiness in both Shaik to turn to Zuma for help, and Zuma’s readiness to give it.”

Prosecutors had declined to file charges against Zuma, saying they would first go after Shaik to make sure they had “a winnable case,” according to the BBC. They now may file criminal charges against Zuma, press reports noted.

Though Zuma retains strong support within the African National Congress, press reports warned that last week’s conviction may put an end to his chances of winning the presidency in 2009, when President Thabo Mbeki is scheduled to end his second term.