Ex-South African president Jacob Zuma sentenced to 15 months for contempt of court

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court.

The 79-year-old has five days to turn himself over to the police after the country’s Constitutional Court said he was guilty of missing a court date back in February, CNBC reported.

The February trial was part of a corruption investigation into the former president’s time in office.

Zuma was president between 2009 and 2018 and has been accused of committing a number of crimes while in power.

Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo is in charge of the investigation against Zuma.

The investigation into the February trial began after Zuma and members of his administration allegedly had illegal contact with three wealthy businessmen, according to CNBC.

Zuma and the businessmen have all denied the accusations against them.

The former president had another corruption trial in May, when he pleaded not guilty to an arms deal he made as deputy president in 1999, CNBC noted.

Zuma claims all the allegations against him are politically driven.

The former president lost his position in 2018, when he was ousted by the ruling African National Congress in part for his alleged corruption in office.