Rajesh’s revelations cast further doubt on the unspecified arrest warrant issued against Ajay Gupta earlier this year‚ and which is understood to have been obtained in relation to the corruption claims made against him by Jonas in the “State of Capture” report released by then public protector Thuli Madonsela.
It was on the basis of that arrest warrant that Ajay was declared a fugitive from justice. According to Ajay‚ his lawyers have repeatedly tried to ascertain what he is wanted for from the Hawks‚ but have been unsuccessful. This “lack of transparency”‚ he says‚ is a key reason why he does not trust the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority‚ and will not return to South Africa to give evidence to the Zondo commission.
Ajay has stressed that Jonas himself appears not to have laid any criminal charges in relation to the alleged bribe offer‚ and has accused the NPA and the Hawks of applying for a warrant for his arrest “premised purely on an alleged hearsay affidavit and criminal complaint apparently laid by a DA politician with the SAPS”.
“Based on this unlawful conduct‚ I am now labelled as a fugitive from justice. This method and conduct clearly demonstrates the unlawful and unfair treatment I am subjected to‚” Ajay states in a September 12 affidavit.