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07/06/2004:

"Winnie Mandela escapes prison term"

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of South Africa's first black president, Nelson Mandela, escaped jail yesterday when a four-year sentence for theft was overturned on appeal.

Rather than celebrate, the woman once dubbed the mother of the nation was defiant and promised to appeal against the ruling that upheld other convictions for fraud.

Mrs Madikizela-Mandela, 67, allegedly abused her position as head of the African National Congress Women's League to defraud a bank by obtaining loans worth $120,000 in the name of non-existent employees.
Full Article : guardian.co.uk