Former South African president, Jacob Zuma has been
sentenced to 15 months in prison after being found guilty
for defying a court order to appear before an inquiry probing
wide-ranging allegations of corruption during his tenure from
2009 to 2018.

This is the first time in South Africa’s history that a former
president has been sentenced to prison.

Zuma, who wasn’t present for the ruling on Tuesday, June
29, was ordered to hand himself over within five days to a
police station in his hometown of Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal
province or in Johannesburg.

Back in January, the Constitutional Court ruled that Zuma
had to respond to questions from a judicial commission
headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. But the
79-year-old former intelligence operative accused the court
and Zondo of bias, walked out of one scheduled panel
hearing in November, and boycotted another in February.
The panel responded by filing contempt charges against
him.

“The Constitutional Court can do nothing but conclude that
Mr. Zuma is guilty of the crime of contempt of court,”
acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe said in a ruling in
Johannesburg on Tuesday. “Mr. Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
is sentenced to undergo 15 months imprisonment.”

According to report, the government estimates more than
500 billion rand ($35 billion) was stolen from the state
during Zuma’s rule, and at least 40 witnesses who’ve
appeared before in court linked the ex-president to the
looting spree.

However, Zuma, who was forced to quit in 2018, has denied
wrongdoing and says the allegations against him are part of
a smear campaign.

https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2021/6/south-african-court-jails-ex-president-jacob-zuma-for-15-months-for-contempt.html