NAN-F-14
Email
Cape Town, Sept. 6, 2017(Reuters/NAN) South African police are investigating leaked emails which suggested that the wealthy Gupta family used their friendship with President Jacob Zuma to win contracts and influence decisions, the country’s top state prosecutor said on Wednesday.
Shaun Abrahams, the Head of the National Prosecuting Authority, told a parliamentary committee in response to a question, that his department could not take a position on the matter as it was still under investigation.
“The leaked emails need to be investigated,” he said.
Both Zuma and the Guptas had denied any wrongdoing.
The allegations of influence-peddling in the “State Capture” affair are causing division in the ruling ANC party as factions jostle for control before a conference in December where Zuma’s successor will be chosen.
In June, the media reported that over 100,000 documents and emails leaked from the business empire of the Gupta family, which is close to Zuma.
However the Guptas said the leaks were fake.
A family spokesman last month said the allegations were false and part of a “blatantly political campaign”.
The stories based on the leaked emails had drawn several international firms into a scandal which prompted senior politicians to call for Zuma’s resignation.
One of the Gupta brothers, Atul said earlier that the leaked emails which suggested his family used links to Zuma to win contracts and influence decisions were fake. (Reuters/NAN)
OYE/AEA
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Archibong Asuquo