Selebi decision made

2007-12-16 19:04

Pretoria - The National Prosecuting Authority has decided whether National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi will be prosecuted.

"The decision is on whether he has a case to answer," NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said on Sunday.

However, the decision would not be made public until it had been studied by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Brigitte Mabandla, he said.

"The review panel submitted a report containing its findings and/or recommendations to the acting (National Director of Public Prosecutions Mokotedi Mpshe)," Tlali said in a statement.

"After studying the report, Advocate Mpshe has made a decision in the matter," he said.

Mpshe prepared and submitted a report on his decision to Mabandla at the conclusion of the review process.

"As the Justice Minster is the political head of the ministry which the NPA is part of, there is a legislative requisite to keep the minister informed on matters relating to the business of the NPA," Tlali said.

Selebi at ANC conference

"This investigation is no exception. Once the Minister is properly and sufficiently familiar with the contents of the report, the decision will be made known."

Selebi was seen at the African National Congress's 52nd national conference in Polokwane on Saturday.

Two warrants against Selebi were cancelled in September this year.

The first was obtained by Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel from the Randburg Chief Magistrate on September 10, for Selebi's arrest for alleged corruption, fraud, racketeering and defeating the ends of justice.

On September 14, a search warrant was obtained from the deputy Judge President of the Witwatersrand Local Division of the High Court in Johannesburg.

Acting NPA head Mokotedi Mpshe had both warrants cancelled shortly after the suspension of NPA head Vusi Pikoli.

This sparked calls from opposition parties for Selebi to step down and accusations that President Thabo Mbeki was shielding the police chief from prosecution.

Involvement with Glenn Agliotti

Rumours of Selebi's appearance on a new warrant in court in variously, Pretoria, Randburg and Wynberg abounded on Wednesday. However, he did not appear.

At the time, the NPA said it had yet to be decided whether Selebi would be prosecuted, adding that a decision would be made known this week.

Selebi has come under fire over his involvement with drugs kingpin Glenn Agliotti, who is also accused of the murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble.

His office refused to comment on a plea bargain and 10 year suspended sentence for drug trafficking handed down earlier this month to Agliotti, who Selebi calls a friend.

"Agliotti himself said Jackie Selebi has not been a part of his court cases," Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said at the announcement of the police's latest crime statistics on December 6.

Selebi was not at the announcement.

- SAPA