Catzavelos ‘relieved and grateful’ for fine, suspended sentence
Johannesburg businessman Adam Catzavelos says he is "relieved and very grateful" that his trial has come to an end.
Catzavelos spoke to the media outside the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Friday morning after sentence was handed down in his crimen injuria case.
He was fined R50 000 and handed a suspended sentence.
"I am very relieved and very grateful that I had a very fair and reasonable judge and I am grateful for the judgment," he said.
In a statement read out in court by Magistrates Hleziphe Mkhasibe, Catzavelos said the experience has helped him connect with other South Africans.
He added that he was "happy that he did get caught and had the experience that he got”.
Mkhasibe said during sentencing that she believed Catzavelos had shown remorse.
"To my mind these are the words of a man who had the opportunity to self introspect and is remorseful for his actions. I observed the accused when he testified under oath, and I have no reason to doubt that he was sincere.”