Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top
Zuma dismissed the corruption charges as a conspiracy

Africa

S.Africa’s Zuma gets 15-month jail term for contempt of court

JohannesburgSouth Africa, June 29 – South Africa’s top court on Tuesday handed former president Jacob Zuma a 15-month jail term for contempt of court following his refusal to appear before graft investigators.

“The Constitutional Court can do nothing but conclude that Mr Zuma is guilty of the crime of contempt of court,” judge Sisi Khampepe said.

Zuma, 79, is accused of enabling the plunder of state coffers during his nearly nine-year stay in office.

“This kind of recalcitrance and defiance is unlawful and will be punished,” Khampepe said.

“I am left with no option but to commit Mr Zuma to imprisonment, with the hope that doing so sends an unequivocal message… the rule of law and the administration of justice prevails.”

“The majority judgement orders an unsuspended sentence of imprisonment for a period (of 15 months),” she declared, ordering Zuma to hand himself over within five days.

The commission of inquiry is headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

The panel was set up by Zuma himself, under pressure over mounting scandals, shortly before he was ousted in 2018 by the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

But he only testified once, in July 2019, before staging a walkout days later and accusing the commission’s Zondo of bias.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

He then ignored several invitations to reappear, citing medical reasons and preparations for another corruption trial.

He presented himself again briefly in November but left before questioning, and Zondo asked to ask the Constitutional Court to intervene.

Most of the graft investigated by the commission involve three brothers from a wealthy Indian business family, the Guptas, who won lucrative government contracts and were allegedly even able to choose cabinet ministers.

Zuma is separately facing 16 charges of fraud, graft and racketeering relating to a 1999 purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and military gear from five European arms firms for 30 billion rand, then the equivalent of nearly $5 billion.

At the time of the purchase, Zuma was president Thabo Mbeki’s deputy.

He is accused of accepting bribes totalling four million rand from one of the firms, French defence giant Thales.

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News

County News

KISUMU, Kenya March 29 – The Civil Society in Kisumu took to the streets on Good Friday to highlight the challenges facing Kenyans, reflecting...

Capital Health

NAIROBI, KENYA, MARCH 29 – The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has affirmed its commitment to resolving disputes with the government through dialogue...

County News

NYERI, Kenya Mar 29 – Nyeri Archbishop Antony Muheria has called for an end to glorification of corruption and impunity in the country. During...

CHINA DAILY

As consumers look to upgrade to smarter electric autos, fully self-driving cars are getting closer

CHINA DAILY

BEIJING, China Mar 29 – The mind-bending new Netflix series 3 Body Problem, an attempt to adapt Liu Cixin’s epic novel The Three-Body Problem for Western audiences, has...

CHINA DAILY

BEIJING, China Mar 29 – President Xi Jinping promoted two senior People’s Liberation Army officers to the highest military rank of general on Thursday....

County News

NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 29 – Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro has vowed to ban Muguka consumption in the county, citing its detrimental effects. The...

Top stories

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 29 – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has directed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and Kenya Seed outlets countrywide...