South African High Court on Wednesday ordered former President Jacob Zuma to return to jail, invalidating the medical parole he was granted in September, reported Reuters.
High Court Judge Elias Matojane read the ruling that said the decision to place Zuma on medical parole was unlawful and has been set aside.
The court ordered that the 79-year-old former South African president should return to the custody of the Department of Correctional Services to serve out the remainder of his 15-month sentence.
The Department of Correctional Services said that it was studying the judgment and will make any announcements at a later time.
Zuma was jailed in July for 15 months for contempt of court after he refused to give testimony to corruption investigators investigating the charges of state capture – the allegation that government decisions were being taken on behalf of business interests.
His presidency between 2009-2018 was marred by widespread allegations of graft and wrongdoing. He denies any wrongdoing and says that he is a victim of a political witchhunt.
His arrest triggered the worst violence South Africa had seen in years as his angry supporters took to the streets. The protests widened into violent clashes and looting in which more than 300 people were killed and thousands of businesses were pillaged and razed.
Zuma was granted medical parole on September 5, but the exact reasons were never disclosed. While in prison, he was taken to hospital for surgery to treat an undisclosed ailment.
Zuma’s lawyers have filed a motion to appeal against the court’s order. The move means that the former South African president will not return to prison until the appeal is heard.
In their filing, his lawyers said the court’s decision “amounts to cruel and degrading punishment with no due regard to the patient’s healthcare, dignity and other human rights.”
