South Africa’s attempt to extradite two brothers from the rich Gupta family from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was unsuccessful.
In South Africa, Atul and Rajesh Gupta are accused of benefitting from their close ties with former President Jacob Zuma and wielding undue influence.
The move was met with “shock and dismay” by the justice ministry.
The brothers fled after a judicial commission began investigating a major corruption issue.
Last June, the Indian-born Guptas were apprehended in the UAE, and extradition talks with South Africa began.
However, the UAE stated that the extradition request was denied due to a technicality.
A study “determined that the request did not fulfill the high standards for legal documents as specified in the extradition agreement between the UAE and South Africa,” according to a brief statement reported by the Emirates News Agency.
According to the statement, some of the paperwork was either wrong in the case of the fraud charge or absent in the case of the corruption charge.
The decision was taken in February, but South Africa was just informed about it on Thursday, according to South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola.
The Guptas are accused of abusing their close relationship with Mr. Zuma to gain corporate contracts, influence high-profile government appointments, and misappropriate state cash.
Mr. Zuma, like the Guptas, has denied the charges.
Three years after the brothers fled the nation, South Africa secured an extradition arrangement with the UAE in 2021.
