South African opposition party leader Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday after he was convicted of breaking firearm laws by firing a rifle at a political rally in 2018.

April 16 (UPI) -- South African politician Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm and firing a rifle into the air at a political rally.

April 16 (UPI) -- South African politician Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in prison for illegal possession of a firearm and firing a rifle into the air at a political rally.

Julius Malema, South Africa’s EFF leader, was sentenced to five years for firing a rifle in public, but he appealed and vowed to fight the ruling.

Cape Town, South Africa | Xinhua | South African opposition politician Julius Malema was sentenced on Thursday to five years in prison for firearm-related offenses. Malema, the founding leader of the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is one of the most prominent politicians in South Africa. The lengthy sentence was delivered on Thursday morning at …

Reading out his sentence, the Magistrate, Twanet Olivier, said the court considered several factors in its decision, taking into account the evidence presented by the defence.

Julius Malema has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of the illegal possession of a gun and firing it in a public place.