Lawyers of S.Africa's Zuma asks top court to halt arrest, hours before deadline

FILE PHOTO: South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma, who faces fraud and corruption charges, speaks to supporters after appearing at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, May 17, 2021. REUTERS/Rogan Ward/File Photo

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's former president Jacob Zuma asked the Constitutional Court on Wednesday to suspend its order to the police to arrest him by midnight pending the outcome of his challenge against a jail sentence for contempt.

The constitutional court gave Zuma a 15 month jail term last week for defying an instruction to give evidence at an inquiry into corruption during his nine years in power until 2018. He denies all wrongdoing.