- South Africa said that the UAE has turned down its request to extradite two brothers from the Gupta family to face trial in this country on fraud and corruption charges.
- The three Gupta brothers are wanted in South Africa for their alleged roles in the looting of billions of rands from state enterprises.
- Originally from Saharanpur in India, the Guptas built an empire in the IT, media and mining industries after first arriving in the country to start a shoe shop.
- Legal experts however said an appeal against the decision would be to no avail, as the Gupta brothers are believed to now be in Switzerland.
South Africa said that the UAE has turned down its request to extradite two brothers from the wealthy Indian-origin Gupta family to face trial in this country on fraud and corruption charges. The three Gupta brothers, Ajay, Atul and Rajesh, are wanted in South Africa for their alleged roles in the looting of billions of rands from state enterprises. They are alleged to have used their proximity to former president Jacob Zuma to do this. The family fled to Dubai five years ago as the net closed in on them following Zuma’s ousting by his own African National Congress when he refused to step down.
The South African government last year submitted a formal extradition application to the United Arab Emirates for Rajesh Gupta and Atul Gupta. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola says his government is “shocked and dismayed” after the UAE declined the request. Lamola said he only learnt about the decision after his office enquired with the local UAE embassy, which said that they had received a note verbale stating this. “We learnt with shock and dismay that the extradition hearing had been concluded in the Dubai courts on February 13, 2023, and our extradition request was unsuccessful,” Lamola said. Lamola said the decision would be appealed. Legal experts however said such an appeal would be to no avail, as the Gupta brothers are believed to now be in Switzerland.
Originally from Saharanpur in India, the Guptas built an empire in the IT, media and mining industries after first arriving in the country to start a shoe shop soon after Nelson Mandela was released from 27 years as a political prisoner to become the first democratically-elected president.
“We have complied with every letter of the extradition treaty that we have between ourselves and the UAE authorities. To ensure this compliance, we have even allowed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to go to the UAE for engagements with their counterparts before the papers were submitted,” Lamola said at a media briefing.
National Prosecuting Authority Director Shamila Batohi said South Africa would continue to prosecute those wanted in South Africa who have fled the country. Batohi said although a Red Alert notice issued against the Gupta brothers by Interpol had now lapsed, they would engage Interpol again if they could confirm reports that the Gupta brothers were seen in Switzerland.
