A South African judge says he wants ex-President Jacob Zuma to be given a jail sentence for failing to appear before him to answer corruption allegations.
Mr Zuma, 79, ignored a summons to appear before a commission of inquiry being chaired by Justice Ray Zondo.
The judge said Mr Zuma’s defiance could lead to lawlessness, and he would ask South Africa’s highest court to convict the ex-president of contempt.
Mr Zuma said he believed that Justice Zondo was biased against him.
He previously asked the judge to step down as chair of the inquiry.
Justice Zondo rejected the request and said he was doing his job impartially.
At least 40 witnesses have implicated Mr Zuma in corruption.
Among the allegations against him is that during his term in office, he allowed the wealthy Gupta family to plunder state resources and to influence policy and cabinet appointments.
Both Mr Zuma and the Guptas deny any wrongdoing.
The Constitutional Court ruled last month that Mr Zuma was compelled to appear before the commission.
Following his non-appearance on Monday, Justice Zondo said everyone was equal before the law and if Mr Zuma was allowed to defy the courts it would have far-reaching implications for democracy.
Mr Zuma has not commented since the judge’s ruling but has previously said he is not afraid to go to jail.
But some of his supporters, dressed in military fatigue, have marched outside his rural home, vowing to protect him.
Mr Zuma was forced to step down as president in 2018 after being dogged by allegations of corruption throughout his nine years in office.
His successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, took office on a pledge to tackle the issue.
Latest Stories
-
Shatta Movement apologises to Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled after backlash
20 mins -
Sammy Gyamfi writes: Tema-Mpakadan Railway Project; A railway line to nowhere
52 mins -
Bright Simons: Is the World Bank saving or harming Ghana?
1 hour -
CAF Cup: RS Berkane banned from entering Algeria because of a map of Morocco with its Sahara
1 hour -
The media isn’t doing what is expected of journalism – Sulemana Braimah
2 hours -
Truck driver who caused train accident jailed 6 months
2 hours -
Music review: Okyeame Kwame proves rap dexterity on ‘No Competition’
2 hours -
How a 23-year-old fooled the internet with an AI Kendrick Lamar diss track
2 hours -
No man should be intimidated by the strength of a woman – Charlotte Oduro
2 hours -
Ghana is not immune to terrorist attack – National Security
2 hours -
WAFU B U-17 Championship: Ghana drawn in Group A, face Benin and Cote d’Ivoire
3 hours -
Two hit by stray bullet as Police clash with ‘wee smokers’
3 hours -
Peter Amewu blames truck driver recklessness for train accident
3 hours -
Okyeame Kwame aims for another Artiste of the Year win after 15 years
3 hours -
NAGRAT gives government one-week ultimatum to redeem unpaid pensions for 700,000 workers
3 hours