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South African Appeal Court Orders Zuma Back To Jail

Published

1 year ago

November 21, 2022

An appeal court in South Africa said on Monday that former president, Jacob Zuma, was unlawfully given medical parole from a jail term last year and should return to prison to complete his sentence.

Zuma, 80, had been handed a 15-month term in June 2021 for contempt of court, a move that triggered deadly unrest.But he served only two months before being given parole for medical reasons that remain unclear.

Parole was granted by the head of South Africa’s prison service, despite an opinion by the service’s medical committee that Zuma did not meet the required conditions.

“This court has now determined that Mr Zuma’s release on medical parole was unlawful,” the supreme court of appeal said.

“Mr Zuma in law has not finished serving this sentence. He must return to the Estcourt Correctional Center to do so,” it said, referring to a jail northwest of the city of Durban.

According to medical assessments cited in the appeal court’s decision, Zuma has problems linked to high blood pressure, elevated levels of blood sugar and lesions of the colon.

Zuma, a prominent figure in the fight against apartheid, became president in 2009 and was forced to step down in disgrace by the ANC in 2018 following mounting corruption allegations.

But he remains a revered figure among grassroots members of the ruling African National Congress, who perceive him as a defender of the poor and oppressed.

When his jail term was announced, violent protests broke out that spiralled into looting, leaving 350 people dead.

The order by the supreme court of appeal is unlikely to be the final word in the long-running saga, as Zuma still has recourse to the Constitutional Court, the highest judicial instance in the land.

The prison authorities last month announced that Zuma’s 15-month term was now formally over.

He has since made several public appearances, singing and dancing before his supporters, and launched a verbal attack on his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing him of graft and treason.

Ramaphosa faces a crucial ANC conference next month, seeking re-election at a time when he is under pressure over allegations that he concealed a multi-million-dollar cash heist at his luxury farmhouse.

Zuma was jailed for refusing to testify to a high-level inquiry into massive state corruption that unfolded under his presidency.

He also faces separate corruption charges over an arms deal dating back more than two decades.

AFP/PUNCH

Headline

Founding Bassist Of 70s Rock Band, Saxon, Jailed For S3xually Assaulting 6-year-old Girl

Published

5 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

The founding member and former bassist of Saxon, one of the UK’s most successful heavy metal bands, has been jailed for assaulting a six-year-old girl.

Stephen Dawson, 72, was sentenced to five years in prison at Sheffield Crown Court after he was convicted of four counts of indecent assault of a child under 14.

The rock band, which was formed in Barnsley, South Yorks, sold over 23 million records and its eccentric musicians later inspired the cult mockumentary ‘This is Spinal Tap’.

Dawson’s former bandmates, including Saxon co-founder and guitarist Graham Oliver, said they were left ‘shocked’, ‘sickened’, and ‘disgusted’ at his actions.

The abuse took place in the 1990s following Dawson’s dismissal from the band in 1986, with Oliver saying they hoped the victim had ‘closure’ following the ordeal.

His statement read: ‘To say we are all shocked and disgusted by Dawson’s actions is an understatement.

Founding bassist of 70s rock band, Saxon, is jailed for s3xually assaulting 6-year-old girl as former bandmates say they are

‘While these vile offences occurred post-Saxon and pre Son of a Bitch/Oliver Dawson Saxon era, we are all sickened by his predatory behaviour against a small child, and hope this prison sentence gives his victim some closure on her terrible ordeal.’

Dawson founded Saxon with Oliver in 1976 before Peter ‘Biff’ Byford joined on vocals and Paul Quinn came in on guitar.

And he helped write hits including ‘747 Strangers in the Night’ and ‘Freeway Mad’ off their 1980 platinum record, ‘Wheels of Steel’.

Dawson was also thought to be the inspiration behind the fictional character Derek Smalls, played by Harry Shearer in the film This Is Spinal Tap, released in 1984.

He remained with the group until 1986 when he was reportedly fired due to arguments with his fellow musicians.

Dawson, from Rotherham, was originally found guilty on March 21 before being given his custodial sentence this week.

Following the verdict, Detective Constable Robert Heath, from South Yorkshire Police, said his victim had demonstrated ‘extraordinary strength’.

He said: ‘Stephen Dawson thought he had got away with committing these horrific crimes against a young, vulnerable victim 30 years ago.

‘She has shown extraordinary strength through coming forward and throughout the course of the investigation, resulting in Dawson spending a number of years in prison.

‘It is clear that his evil acts have remained with her throughout her life, and I hope this sentence goes some way to allowing her to move on from these traumatic events.

‘The result of this case demonstrates just how seriously we take these offences.

‘We hope this provides some encouragement that if you have been subjected to any offence, no matter how long ago it happened, to come forward and report it to us.

‘We are here to listen, investigate and bring the perpetrators before courts.’

Headline

World’s First Artificial Intelligence Beauty Pageant To Award Hottest AI Robot $13K

Published

7 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

AI Robots are now set to enter the beauty pageant world as a new artificial intelligence pageant is set to dole out thousands of dollars to the best chatbot babes.

“‘Miss AI’ is the world’s first beauty pageant for AI-generated models,” announced Fanvue, a subscription-based social media platform, of its forthcoming event slated for May.

“Contestants will be judged on their beauty, tech, and clout for the chance to earn the Miss AI crown.”

The event, an offshoot of the World AI Creator Awards (WAICAs), which recognizes artificial intelligence content creators across the globe will welcome digital divas who’ve been designed to dazzle the eye, mind and internet.

A panel of human judges such as beauty pageant historian Sally-Ann Fawcett, as well as AI influencers Aitana Lopez and Emily Pellegrini, will select the best and sexiest robots.

World?s first Artificial Intelligence beauty pageant to award hottest AI robot $13K

“Each judge will use their wealth of expertise to assess contestants across three core categories,” said pageant organizers. “A points-based system will be used to score each creator across the three categories with each entrant given an overall score.”

The top bot will log out with a whopping $13,000 reward, including a $5,000 check, a $3,000 mentorship scholarship and $5,000 in public relations support.

The second and third runners-up will receive grand totals of $5,000 and $2,000, respectively.

AI photos competing for the titles must be “100% AI-generated” to be considered for the money. The creators of the masterpieces must be at least age 18.

“Contestants will be judged on some of the classic aspects of pageantry including their beauty, poise and their unique answers to a series of questions like, ‘If you could have one dream to make the world a better place what would it be?,’” per Fanvue.

“Contestants will earn points for their skill and implementation of AI tools used to create their digital masterpieces, including the use of prompts and their output, and visual detailing around hands, eyes, and backgrounds.”

“AI Creators’ social clout will be assessed based on their engagement numbers with fans, rate of growth of audience,” Fanvue explained, “and [their] utilization of other platforms such as Instagram.”

Headline

Bill: MP Punched In The Face As Georgian Politicians Fight Dirty In Parliament [VIDEO]

Published

7 hours ago

April 16, 2024

Editor

Mamuka Mdinaradze, leading ruler of the Georgian Dream party and a politician who supports the “foreign agent” bill, was punched by opposition leader Aleko Elisashvili while speaking.

After the first punch was thrown, several other legislators began throwing punches.

Elisashvili was later cheered by citizens outside of the parliament building for his actions.

Speaking to news outside of the building, Elisashvili said: “I got beaten, but if it’s for Georgia, then so be it. F*** them! We must shove this law up their a**es.

“There is no time for politeness, they are dragging us directly into Russia. We are either Georgians or slaves. And we are not slaves.”

Five opposition MPs have now been expelled from the Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill after the brawl: Giorgi Vashadze, Paata Manjgaladze, Ana Natsvlishvili, Levan Khabeishvili and Khatia Dekanoidze.

The controversial bill was introduced by the Georgian Dream party, and would require organisations that accept funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents” or face fines.

But the bill has drawn fierce backlash and caused strain for Georgian citizens who aim to join the EU.

European countries and the EU have opposed the bill – but the country has already deepened their ties with Russia.

After the bill was introduced last year, protestors threw Molotov cocktails, fireworks and stones at police in the capitol city of Tbilisi.

But Givi Mikanadze, a Georgian Dream lawmaker, told national TV last year: “Georgian society absolutely deserves to know which organisations are being financed, from which sources.”

More than 60 civil society organisations and media outlets have said they will not comply with the bill if it is signed into law.

Protestors outside of the parliament building on Monday, April 15, chanted: “No to the Russian law!”

Saba Gotua, an architect, told AFP: “Georgia’s society is strong enough not to allow the country to slide into Russian-styled authoritarianism.”

But the Georgian Dream party said the bill will combat “pseudo-liberal values” imposed by foreigners and promote transparency about foreign funding.

Watch the video of the fight below.