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When a scorpion attacks...
14/01/2008 13:19 - (SA)
Johannesburg - January 14 - Charges against Gerrie Nel, the man
leading an investigation into alleged corruption by South
Africa's national police chief, Jackie Selebi, have been
dropped, SAPA news agency reported on Monday.
Last week Nel was arrested and charged in connection with an
earlier case.
Here is some background on all the related cases:
Background on the Nel/Selebi cases:
- Nel, a senior official of the Scorpions elite
crime-fighting unit who led the investigation into Selebi, was
arrested at his home last Tuesday and charged with perjury,
fraud and "defeating the ends of justice" in connection with a
trial several years ago in which Nel testified against a member
of the Scorpions elite police unit.
- Moketedi Mpshe, acting head of the National Prosecuting
Authority (NPA), said Nel's arrest had nothing to do with Nel's
conduct in the Selebi case. The charges against Nel were dropped
on Monday.
- Jackie Selebi, an ally of South African President Thabo
Mbeki, has been criticised since the 2006 arrest of his friend
and businessman Glenn Agliotti. Selebi has acknowledged the
friendship but denied having any financial links or any
knowledge of Agliotti's alleged underworld connections.
Justice in SA:
The NPA:
- The NPA was established by the 1996 constitution. The
Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, which
Mpshe heads, was launched in August 1998.
- The NPA has the power to institute and conduct criminal
proceedings on behalf of the state. The constitution stipulates
that the NPA reports to the justice minister.
- The Directorate of Special Operations, the official name
of the Scorpions elite crime fighting unit, was launched at
Mbeki's behest as part of the NPA on September 1 1999, to eradicate organised crime in South Africa.
- In 2006, Mbeki's cabinet approved a recommendation that
the Scorpions report to the safety and security minister, also
responsible for the police, while the prosecuting wing of the
NPA would continue to report to the justice minister. The move
was never formalised in law.
- Unease has grown as ANC members, especially those backing
ANC President Jacob Zuma in his bid to succeed Mbeki as national
president, accused the Scorpions of abusing power to settle
political scores, some dating back to white minority rule. The
NPA charged Zuma with corruption, fraud, money laundering and
racketeering on December 28. Mpshe denied accusations Mbeki was
behind the new corruption charges and that his agency had been
improperly influenced.
A recent timeline:
2006:
November - South African businessman Glenn Agliotti arrested by the Scorpions in connection with the murder of mining magnate
Brett Kebble. Kebble was gunned down in Johannesburg in 2005.
Agliotti's lawyers subsequently argued Kebble's death was an
"assisted suicide" made to look like a botched carjacking.
2007:
January 18 - Agliotti is charged in connection with a R250m drug bust after three other suspects agreed to testify against him.
September 24 - Moketedi Mpshe becomes acting head of the National Prosecuting Authority after Vusi Pikoli was suspended by Mbeki, drawing accusations he did it to protect Selebi from a criminal investigation.
October 5 - NPA says it has obtained arrest and search warrants for Selebi, but would not act on them pending a review.
December 5 - Agliotti pleads guilty to drug dealing and agrees to testify against international traffickers.
2008:
January 8 - Gerrie Nel, a senior official of the Scorpions elite crime-fighting unit who led the investigation into Selebi, is arrested and charged.
January 11 - The NPA says Selebi is to be charged with
corruption and defeating the course of justice in connection
with his relationship with Agliotti.
January 12 - Mbeki announces Selebi will take an extended leave of absence and Selebi resigns the next day as president of
Interpol, the world police organisation.
January 14 - Charges against Nel are dropped.
- Reuters
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