— 02/02/2008
S.A POLICE CHIEF CHARGED WITH CORRUPTION

South Africa's National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi was charged on February 1 on three counts of corruption and one of defeating the ends of justice. He also faces an alternate charge of receiving an unauthorised gratification 'by a person who is party to an employment relationship'. Selebi was not asked to plead, and the charges were not formally put to him, but his lawyer said he intended pleading not guilty when the case resumes on June 26. Last month Selebi was placed on special leave and resigned as head of Interpol when news of the charges broke.

According to the indictment, the charges include receiving money to cancel an arrest warrant for mining entrepreneur Billy Rautenbach, a 'fugitive of justice living in Zimbabwe'. Rautenbach requested that Glenn Agliotti - a police informer according to the indictment, and now a co-accused in the murder investigation of businessman Brett Kebble - intervene on his behalf regarding an arrest warrant for him in South Africa. Agliotti was also recently convicted of drug trafficking.

Payments to Selebi
'Agliotti discussed Rautenbach's request with the accused and later indicated a willingness to assist,' the indictment read. Rautenbach made US40,000 available to Selebi to have the warrant cancelled and 'of this amount 30,000 US dollars was paid over to the accused, by Agliotti'. An amount of R30,000 (£2,000) was requested by Selebi and given to him by Agliotti 'on or around' September 27, 2005. The charge sheet says this was a 'day or two' after the death of Kebble, who was shot dead on September 27 in Melrose, Johannesburg.

The state alleges that Agliotti, Kebble, Rautenbach and other 'relevant corporate entities' benefitted Selebi between January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2005. The figure was an amount of 'at least' R1.2 million. 'This was by way of payments by Agliotti on his own account on behalf of Rautenbach, the Kebbles and others.'

The benefits allegedly included medical expenses for Selebi's son and clothing and handbags for Selebi, his wife, girl friend and his children. Selebi has made an application in the Pretoria High Court to have the investigation against him stopped. This application will be heard on April 10.