Ajay Gupta arrest warrant canned

Thembelihle Mkhonza

The directorate for priority crime investigation (the Hawks) yesterday confirmed the warrant of arrest issued against Ajay Gupta has been withdrawn.

This comes after corruption charges against former president Jacob Zuma’s son, Duduzane Zuma were provisionally withdrawn in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Johannesburg last month.

The authorities had sought to question Gupta on allegations that he tried to bribe former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas during a meeting set up by Duduzane Zuma.

Last year, Jonas told the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture that he was offered R600 million at that meeting to take up the post of finance minister in 2015. He turned it down. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it was unable to continue with the case for now, because Jonas’ evidence at the Zondo commission has not yet been finalised.

Gupta had maintained that he was not a fugitive in South Africa after the asset forfeiture unit, the SA Revenue Service (Sars) and the police raided his family compound in Saxonwold last year. – ANA