S Africa withdraws warrant for Gupta

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa has provisionally withdrawn an arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta, a businessman and friend of former president Jacob Zuma, police said on Friday, in a setback for the government’s promised fight against corruption.

Former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas accused Gupta of offering him a large bribe and the position of finance minister if he would help the Gupta family with business ventures in South Africa. Gupta denied wrongdoing and fought the accusation through his lawyers after prosecutors opened cases against him and Zuma’s son Duduzane, in whose presence Gupta allegedly offered Jonas the bribe and cabinet post. “The warrant for Ajay Gupta was provisionally withdrawn,” said Hangwani Mulaudzi, a spokesman for the Hawks police unit, without elaborating on the reason. “But it can be reinstated.” South African prosecutors provisionally withdrew charges against Duduzane Zuma last month. A lawyer for Gupta did not immediately respond to a request for comment.