Johannesburg: South Africa’s Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced former president Jacob Zuma to 15 months in prison for contempt of court. The Supreme Court found him guilty of contempt for failing to appear before the commission probing corruption charges during his tenure. Zuma, 79, is accused of misappropriating government revenue while in office for nearly nine years between 2009 and 2018. Zuma was not in court during the trial and has been given five days to surrender at the police station. If he does not do so, the police minister will have to order his arrest. The court also said that the sentence cannot be suspended.
The commission, which is probing allegations of corruption and bribery in various institutions, had ordered that Zuma be sentenced to two years in prison. Zuma has repeatedly said that instead of cooperating with the commission, he would go to jail. In a judgment delivered by Constitutional Court Justice Sisi Khampepe on Tuesday morning, she described Zuma’s statements as “bizarre” and “unbearable”. “The statutory court has concluded that Zuma is guilty of contempt of court,” Justice Khampepe said. The judge said, “The statutory court is of the view that the person (Zuma) who twice took the oath of the Republic (South Africa), its law and constitution, have neglected the law, undermined it and in many ways has been abolished.” Tried it.”
“Most of the judges on the bench are of the view that a strong message should be sent that such disobedience and violation is illegal and will be punished,” said Khampepe. A few months before Zuma’s term ended three years ago, he was removed from the presidency by his African National Congress party. He is also facing other criminal cases which are pending against him for more than a decade. Various social organizations have welcomed Zuma’s punishment. “This will enable the commission to do its job effectively and people will be held accountable and if they fail to do so, they will be punished,” said Shaan Bolton, executive director of the Ahmed Khatrada Foundation.
The foundation campaigned for Zuma’s removal and criminal prosecution. Zuma is the main accused in the corruption of fifty billion rands, including the three Gupta brothers. The Gupta brothers allegedly carried out the corruption because of their proximity to them. The Gupta brothers also allegedly benefited Zuma’s two children, who are living in self-exile in Dubai. The government of South Africa has started the process of his extradition.
