Jailed South African police chief freed

Published on 21/07/2012 00:00

A FORMER police chief, who was serving a 15-year jail sentence for corruption, is to be ­released on health grounds, South African officials revealed yesterday.

Jackie Selebi, 62, who is also a former head of the international police organisation Interpol, was said to be suffering from kidney failure, diabetes and suspected cancer. He has received treatment at the Pretoria Central prison, but the facility cannot provide sufficient palliative care for terminally ill offenders, minister Sibusiso Ndebele said.

Selebi resigned as national police commissioner and Interpol chief when corruption charges involving collusion with organised crime figures were filed in 2008. His successor as police chief was also suspended last year on graft allegations. Both were veteran members of the governing African National Congress party.

Prison authority official Tom Moyane insisted Selebi received no preferential considerations in receiving parole, describing it as “a purely medical decision”.

Selebi collapsed in shock when he lost an appeal in December to overturn his sentence passed in 2010 when a court found him guilty of accepting money and perks from convicted South African drugs smuggler, Glen Agliotti.