Activists picket at UAE embassy in Pretoria, demanding Guptas’ extradition
The Gupta family members are believed to have fled to the United Arab Emirates in early 2018 as criminal investigations into their alleged corruption accelerated.
PRETORIA, June 10 (ANA) – Activists from the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation on Thursday invited other protesters to join them in a picket outside the Pretoria embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to press for the extradition of members of the Gupta family.
On Wednesday, it emerged that an extradition agreement between the UAE and South Africa would assist local authorities in ensuring the Guptas were brought to book for their alleged hand in state capture.
“Recent charges against two of the Gupta brothers and their wives, as well as a request that Interpol assist in their arrest, are welcome developments,” the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation said in a statement.
“However, we believe there is a need to demand that the UAE and SA now finalise the extradition. The Guptas must be brought from the UAE, where they currently reside, to SA, to account for the litany of allegations of state capture and corruption that they face.”
The picket was scheduled to start late in the morning on Thursday in Arcadia, east of Pretoria’s central business district.
A statement issued by the UAE’s ambassador to South Africa, Mahash Alhameli, said the extradition agreement — signed in 2018 and ratified by both countries — was key in promoting judicial and legal cooperation with South Africa.
“The agreement was based on the desire of both countries to mutually agree on principles to strengthen their extradition status in accordance with their respective constitutional principles, taking human rights into account,” Alhameli said.
The National Prosecuting Authority last week said it had applied to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to assist with the execution of arrest warrants for two Gupta brothers and their spouses.
It said it was also seeking the arrest of other suspects outside the country involved in the feasibility study on the Estina dairy farm in the Free State province, where millions of rands were allegedly diverted from the farm project to the Guptas and their associates.
The Gupta family members are believed to have fled to the UAE in early 2018 as criminal investigations into their alleged corruption accelerated. They are currently believed to be living in self-exile in Dubai.
– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa