Former South African president Jacob Zuma returned to court on Thursday, alongside French arms manuf

Zuma faces 18 charges — including corruption, fraud and money laundering — over allegations that he received more than 700 illegal payments tied to a 1999 arms deal. He has denied all accusations, calling the case a politically motivated “witch hunt.”

The corruption trial has dragged on for nearly 20 years, repeatedly stalled by appeals and legal challenges from Zuma and Thales. Prosecutors told Judge Nkosinathi Chili that these…