Former President Jacob Zuma's ex-financial advisor Schabir Shaik has confirmed that he has been approached by the Hawks and asked to testify in Zuma's trial.
His lawyer has also stated that Shaik believes "the law will take its rightful course" in the matter between the NPA and Zuma".
The comments came hours after Shaun Abrahams‚ the national director at the National Prosecuting Authority‚ announced that Zuma's latest bid to stop his corruption prosecution had failed.
Shaik said he had "no comment" on Abrahams' announcement‚ because his is on medical parole and is limited in what he can say to the media.
Shaik was convicted of corrupting Zuma in 2005‚ and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was released on medical parole on March 3‚ 2009 after serving just over two years of that sentence. A panel of medical experts had concluded that he was terminally ill.
During his trial‚ Shaik remained adamant that the hundreds of payments he made to Zuma‚ then KwaZulu-Natal Tourism MEC and later deputy president‚ were either gifts or part of a revolving loan agreement.
But the high court rejected that explanation and found that the payments were clearly intended to keep Zuma on a corrupt retainer - so that he could be used‚ in his official capacity‚ to further Shaik's business interests.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that Shaik was not subpoenaed, as originally published, but rather that the Hawks had requested him to testify.