Former South African deputy president to be charged with corruption News
Former South African deputy president to be charged with corruption

[JURIST] A spokesman for South Africa's National Prosecution Authority [official website] announced Monday that former South African deputy president Jacob Zuma [ANC profile] will be charged with two counts of corruption. After one of Zuma's advisors, South African businessman Schabir Shaik [Wikipedia profile] was found guilty [JURIST report] on charges of corruption and fraud, President Thabo Mbeki [BBC profile] fired Zuma from his post last week [JURIST report]. Zuma, once believed to be a viable presidential candidate, was found to have had a "generally corrupt" relationship with Mr. Shaik according to the judge who convicted the businessman. AFP has more. From Johannesburg, South Africa's Mail & Guardian provides local coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Dreyfus convicted of treason

On December 22, 1894, Jewish French army officer Alfred Dreyfus was convicted of treason in a court-martial trial that prompted worldwide allegations of anti-Semitism. Dreyfus was later cleared. Learn more about the case of Alfred Dreyfus and read an English translation of the famous public letter J'Accuse...! by novelist and Dreyfus partisan Emile Zola.

US passed Embargo Act, banning foreign trade

On December 22, 1807, the Embargo Act was passed at the urging of US President Thomas Jefferson. The act barred trade with any foreign nations in an effort to avoid American entry into the Napoleonic Wars of Europe. However, the act proved unenforceable and was replaced with the Non-Intercourse Act, which barred trade with France and Great Britain. Learn more about the Embargo Act of 1807 from Monticello.org