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A United Arab Emirates court has dismissed South Africa’s request to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta, brothers who face charges of political corruption, but the Gulf state said on Friday the extradition request could be resubmitted, Reuters reported.
The Guptas are accused of using their connections with Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, to win contracts, influence cabinet appointments and siphon off state funds.
Zuma and the Guptas have denied all wrongdoing.
The UAE said the extradition request did not meet the “strict standards for legal documentation” contained in an extradition treaty ratified with South Africa in April 2021, which South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government had hoped would lead to the return of the Guptas to face charges.
“The two extradition requests for fraud and corruption were not accompanied by a copy of a current arrest warrant order as required,” the UAE justice minister said in a statement carried by state news agency WAM.
