TIMELINE: JACOB ZUMA’S ARMS DEAL CASE

2005

Jacob Zuma is charged with corruption in the arms deal a few days after Schabir Shaik is convicted for his role in it.

2005

93 000 documents are seized in Scorpions’ raids on Zuma, his lawyers and Thint, the local subsidiary of French arms company Thales.

2006

Zuma’s corruption trial is delayed as the prosecution asks for time to gather evidence.

2007

The state files charges again under the leadership of the NPA’s head advocate, Mokotedi Mpshe. Zuma is charged with racketeering, corruption and money laundering. He is set to appear in court on 4 August -12 December 2008.

2007

The court of appeal opens the way for charges to be brought again when it rules that the police’s seizure of incriminating documents from his home and office was legal.

2008

A judge declares that the prosecution was invalid and throws out the charges on a legal technicality.

2008

Zuma, his attorney Michael Hulley and Thint question the legality of the 2005 raid by the Scorpions and the state to obtain the original documents from Mauritius in their appeals to the Constitutional Court.

2009

Appeals court overturns the ruling, just months before general elections.

2009

Chief prosecutor Mpshe drops charges against Zuma after phone-tap evidence suggests there had been political interference.

2016

The High Court in Pretoria rules that Zuma should face the charges and that the prosecutor’s earlier decision is “irrational”.

2017

The Supreme Court backs the high court ruling in April 2016 that the original decision to charge Zuma in 2009 should stand.

2018

He is charged with corruption two months after resigning as president.

2020

Zuma was set to stand trial in May 2020.