Corruption scandal in South Africa: the extradition of the Gupta brothers is becoming clearer, according to Dubai

Published on: 07/06/2022 – 11:18 The Dubai authorities announced on Tuesday that they are finalizing the extradition procedure for the Gupta brothers, arrested in the United Arab Emirates as part of an Interpol wanted notice. The members of this powerful family of Indian origin are accused of money laundering and embezzlement of public funds in South Africa, operated with the complicity of former President Jacob Zuma. They are suspected by South African justice of being at the heart of the corruption system set up by Jacob Zuma: Dubai announced on Tuesday June 7 that it was finalizing the extradition of two brothers from the sulphurous South African Gupta family. Arrested in the United Arab Emirates, they are accused of being involved in a vast state corruption scandal in South Africa involving the former president. South Africa, which has sought for years to bring Atul and Rajesh Gupta to justice , announced on Monday that it had received information from the authorities of the United Arab Emirates – of which Dubai is a part – on the arrest of the two fugitive brothers. “Dubai police have arrested Atul and Rajesh Gupta, among Africa’s most wanted suspects South, in connection with criminal and money laundering charges,” she said in a statement. The arrest came following a wanted notice from Interpol, an international organization facilitating the police cooperation, currently led by an Emirati official. Towards a trial in September The authorities of the two countries are finalizing the procedure for the extradition of the Gupta brothers, said the Dubai police, which underlines the determination of the State to fight against money laundering – the Gulf emirate has long been accused of being a haven for financial criminals from all over the world. Ajay, Atul and Rajesh Gupta, three brothers of Indian origin and sulphurous businessmen, are accused of looting state coffers, with the complicity of Jacob Zuma, during his nine years in power between 2009 and 2018.Interpol launched a wanted notice in July against Atul and Rajesh as part of a contract questionable amount of 1.5 million euros involving a company linked to the family. The trial in South Africa had been postponed in July in the absence of the defendants. A new hearing was then set for September 6. With AFP