Brothers Atul and Rajesh Gupta, who were arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in June 2022, have been accused of using their connections with former South African President Jacob Zuma to siphon off state funds and win contracts. However, the UAE court has dismissed South Africa’s request to extradite the Indian brothers, who face charges of political corruption. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed the news on Friday, stating that South Africa had received diplomatic communication from the UAE on April 6, informing them that the extradition hearing had been concluded on February 13 and that their request was unsuccessful.
The court ruled that the UAE had jurisdiction to prosecute the Guptas for money laundering offences allegedly committed in both the UAE and South Africa. However, Lamola has stated that South Africa will “promptly appeal” the decision. The Guptas and Zuma have denied any wrongdoing.
Zuma served as president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, during which time he was embroiled in numerous scandals. In 2018, an inquiry was established to investigate allegations of corruption during his nine years in power.
In July 2021, Interpol issued a red notice for the Guptas, enabling law enforcement to arrest them pending extradition. The notice was issued in connection with a 25 million rand ($1.6m) contract paid to a Gupta-linked company, Nulane Investment, to conduct an agricultural feasibility study.
The case has attracted widespread attention due to the high-profile nature of those involved and the allegations of corruption at the highest levels of government. The Guptas have been accused of using their connections with Zuma to influence cabinet appointments and win lucrative contracts.
The decision by the UAE court not to extradite the Guptas is likely to be seen as a setback for South Africa’s efforts to tackle corruption and hold those responsible accountable. The country has been plagued by corruption scandals in recent years, with many accusing the government of failing to take decisive action to address the issue.
However, Lamola has stated that South Africa remains committed to pursuing justice in the case. The decision to appeal the ruling demonstrates the government’s determination to hold those responsible for corruption to account.
The case also highlights the challenges faced by countries when attempting to extradite individuals who are accused of crimes committed in other jurisdictions. The fact that the UAE court has ruled that it has jurisdiction to prosecute the Guptas for offences committed in both the UAE and South Africa is likely to complicate matters further.
Overall, the decision not to extradite the Guptas is likely to be seen as a setback for South Africa’s efforts to tackle corruption and hold those responsible accountable. However, the government’s commitment to pursuing justice in the case is a positive sign and demonstrates its determination to address the issue of corruption at the highest levels of government.