After Jacob Zuma was deposed in 2018, the Indian-born Gupta brothers departed South Africa. In 2018, an investigation into corruption charges during Mr. Zuma’s time in power was launched.
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According to South Africa, Rajesh and Atul Gupta, brothers accused of political corruption under former South African President Jacob Zuma, were detained in the United Arab Emirates on Monday.
Although the two nations signed an extradition deal in April 2021, it was unclear if the brothers’ detention would result in their return to South Africa.
South Africa’s Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services stated in a brief statement that “discussions between different law enforcement authorities in the UAE and South Africa on the way forward are underway,” adding that it will continue to cooperate with the UAE.
The brothers are accused of leveraging their ties to former President Jacob Zuma, who reigned from 2009 to 2018, to obtain contracts, misappropriate public assets, sway cabinet selections, and pump money out of the country.
The Indian-born brothers left South Africa after Jacob Zuma was ousted in 2018. An inquiry was established in 2018 to examine allegations of corruption during Mr. Zuma’s years in power.
The UAE ratified an extradition treaty with South Africa in April 2021, a move that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government hoped would lead to the return of the Guptas to face charges.
The arrests were welcomed by South Africa’s largest opposition party.
The Democratic Alliance said in a statement that it hoped that this is indeed the beginning of arrests and prosecution of those who have – locally and abroad – looted our country for years and are directly responsible for the hardships that millions of South Africans face today,” the Democratic Alliance said in a statement.
