Selebi: Mbeki was told in May

2008-01-14 23:21

Christel Raubenheimer and Liezel de Lange

Johannesburg - Serious allegations of corruption and defeating the ends of justice against National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi were brought to the attention of the Presidency, in writing, in May last year, according to court affidavits.

In spite of this, the government and President Thabo Mbeki insisted at the weekend that he did not have any information that would justify action against Selebi.

A letter from advocate Vusi Pikoli, the suspended head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), was attached to the statement by Selebi which was handed in to Pretoria High Court last week as part of his application to have his prosecution stopped.

Selebi's answering affidavit stated that some of the allegations contained in the letter to Mbeki, were untrue.

The letter, dated May 7 2007, was marked "top secret" and was directed at Mbeki as "a last resort".

In the letter, Pikoli told the president the Scorpions wanted a warrant to search Selebi's home and office.

It was explained to Mbeki that the inquiry into Selebi was launched after the NPA had received a complaint about the way the investigation into the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble was being handled.

Pikoli said it looked "as if Selebi wanted to protect a target (Glenn Agliotti) in the murder inquiry".

Agliotti was a friend of Selebi and had admitted guilt earlier on drugs-related charges.

He also was expected to give evidence against Selebi, it was stated in the letter.

Pikoli warned Mbeki in the letter that it was expected Agliotti would admit that the relationship between himself and Selebi was "generally corrupt".

'Hope the deadlock can be resolved'

Agliotti also would state that Selebi had protected him from enquiries by the South African and British authorities.

Pikoli informed Mbeki that every possible effort to get the Scorpions and the police to co-operate on the investigation had failed and that they were pressing for a search warrant.

Pikoli said in the letter: "I realise what the impact can be on the community's faith in the police and I still hope that the deadlock can be resolved."

The letter has raised questions around the government's repeated position that Mbeki could not take any action against Selebi because he did not have enough evidence of alleged criminal actions by the police chief.

Six months after the date of Pikoli's letter, chief government spokesperson Themba Maseko told a media conference in Pretoria that Mbeki had still not had any access to documented charges against Selebi.

At a media conference this weekend, at which Mbeki announced that Selebi had taken long leave at his own request, the president reiterated this.

"I have said many times that if someone brings me documented evidence that the national commissioner has acted inappropriately, I will take action," Mbeki said in Pretoria on Saturday.

"No one has come to me with such information."

Wants special session

Beeld newspaper sent written questions about the letter to the Presidency on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance leader in Parliament, Sandra Botha, asked on Monday for a special parliamentary session this week at which Mbeki could provide more details about Selebi's long leave and Pikoli's suspension.

"The president must explain why he denied he had any knowledge of alleged corruption by National Commissioner Selebi if he had been informed in May 2007 that the National Prosecuting Authority planned to take action against the national police chief."

The reason given for suspending Pikoli was a breakdown in the working relationship between the NPA boss and Minister of Justice Brigitte Mabandla.

- Beeld