Court sentence South African opposition politician Julius Malema to five years in prison for illegal possession of firearm
Wia dis foto come from, Reuters
South African opposition politician Julius Malema don dey sentenced to at least five years in prison afta court find am guilty of illegal possession of a gun and say e fire am for public.
Malema lawyer say dem go appeal against di decision so dat di leader of di Economic Freedom Fighters no go go prison.
Di length of di sentence fit make di 45-year-old no dey qualified as MP again.
As e stand for court inside one dark suit and red tie, Malema show little emotion as di magistrate Twanet Olivier read out di sentence.
Na last year court convict Malema of five offences, wey include di unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, discharging it in a public space plus reckless endangerment.
Di charges bin relate to one incident wey hapun for 2018 wen one video come out wey show Malema wit one one semi-automatic rifle wey e take fire several shots for air during im party fifth anniversary celebrations wey hold for di kontri Eastern Cape province.
Receiving a sentence of more dan one year don disqualify am from being an MP, but dat no go apply until e don use im opportunities to appeal finish.
For im defence, Malema tell di court say no be im get di firearm and e bin fire di shots to ginger di crowd, South African news site SowetanLIVE bin report at di time.
End of Di one wey oda users dey read well well
But during her sentencing ruling Olivier say "No be something wey you do by mistake. Na di event of di evening," AFP news agency report.
Malema get long reputation as pesin wey dey outspoken, charismatic and radical left-wing politician and e get loyal band of supporters.
Plenty of im supporters bin gada outside di court, as dem support Malema wit chants and singing revolutionary songs.
Malema one time don be leader of di youth wing of di governing African National Congress. But afta e dey expelled from di party, following one falling-out wit di den President Jacob Zuma, e go on to form di EFF.
Wit Malema calls say make South Africans seize land wey belong to white pipo plus di arguments say make govment do more to transfer wealth give di black majority, di EFF get di ANC share of di vote. E bicom di kontri fourth largest party for di 2024 elections.
Afta court find am guilty last October, Malema tell im supporters outside di court for East London say, "going to prison or death na badge of honour".
"We no fit dey fear for prison [or] to die for di revolution. Anytin wey dem wan do, dem must no say we no go ever retreat."
E also vow say im go carry di case go South Africa highest court, di Constitutional Court.
Malema prosecution dey come wen Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum, wey get gbege wit am and di EFF, open di case against Malema afta di video bin go viral.
