Zuma ex-adviser loses jail appeal

Shaik can appeal against the seizure of $5.5m of his assets

South Africa's highest court has rejected an appeal by the former financial adviser to ex-Deputy President Jacob Zuma, Schabir Shaik.

He was sentenced to 15 years in jail in 2005 and it led to Mr Zuma's sacking.

Shaik was found guilty of soliciting a bribe from a French arms company in exchange for Mr Zuma's support.

Observers say the ruling could open the way for fresh charges to be brought against Mr Zuma, a presidential hopeful, whose related trial collapsed.

Mr Zuma is a leading candidate to become South Africa's next president and he has considerable support within the governing African National Congress, which is due to select its presidential candidate in December.

The Constitutional Court said it would not be in the interests of justice to grant an appeal on Shaik's conviction and sentence, Reuters news agency reports.

According to the South African Press Association, the court has granted him leave to appeal against the seizing of his assets.

A court had ordered Mr Zuma's former adviser to pay $5.5m of his assets to the state.

Last year, Mr Zuma was put on trial on corruption charges in relation to the 1999 $4bn arms deal with the French company Thint, but the case collapsed when the prosecution said it was not ready to proceed.