One of the Interim Ruling Council's nonhumans, Za held the title of Prince and belonged to the Defel species. Za's family had dominion over some very important hyperspace lanes. To support Carnor Jax's scheme to undermine Palpatine's clones, he leveraged his family's substantial financial resources. After the Emperor's demise, Za received an invitation to join Jax's Interim Ruling Council. Because of his unsettling appearance (or the lack thereof), the other council members installed ultraviolet lights surrounding De-Purteen in an attempt to make him seem less frightening.
Even with his position on the Council, Defels continued to experience oppression within the Imperial Remnant. Furthermore, Za was manipulated by Norym Kim, who compensated him for suggesting Xandel Carivus as the Council's next leader. When Carivus took over as head of the council, the plan backfired, leading to the expulsion and imprisonment of the council's nonhuman members.
After Carivus died, the New Republic took him into custody.