Jackie Selebi

Jacob (Jackie) Sello Selebi (born March 7, 1950 in Johannesburg)cite web | url = http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/1998/98602_0x1329810350.htm | title = STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF NEW DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS | accessdate = 2006-12-01 | date = 1998-05-28 | publisher = Department of Foreign Affairs, South Africa] is the suspended national commissioner of the South African Police Service,cite web | url = http://www.saps.gov.za/saps_profile/strategic_framework/struct.htm | title = Structure of Department of Safety & Security | accessdate = 2006-12-01 | date = 2006-09-28 | publisher = South African Police Service] and a former president of Interpol.cite web | url = http://www.interpol.int/Public/icpo/governance/default.asp | title = Interpol’s Governance | accessdate = 2006-12-01 | date = 2006-09-28 | publisher = Interpol] Selebi is presently on extended leave as National Police Commissioner, and resigned as president of Interpol, to fight corruption charges in his native South Africa.citeweb|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20080112152705373C793619|title=Mbeki appoints acting police commissioner|publisher=IOL|date=12 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-12]

Biography

Selebi was a representative of the World Federation of Democratic Youth in Budapest, Hungary from 1983 - 1987. Thereafter he was elected Head of the ANC Youth League and member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC in 1987. In 1991 he was responsible for the repatriation of ANC exiles and in 1993 was appointed Head of the Department of Welfare of the ANC. Selebi was elected Honourable Member of Parliament during the 1994 elections. In 1995, Selebi was appointed South Africa's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Geneva. Switzerland. In 1998 he received a Human Rights Award from the International Service for Human Rights.cite web | url = http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/1998/98724_0x0949810339.htm | title = STATEMENT ON AWARDING OF A HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE TO MR JACKIE SELEBI | accessdate = 2006-12-01 | date = 1998-07-23 | publisher = Department of Foreign Affairs, South Africa] cite web | url = http://www.ishr.ch/about%20ISHR/Human%20Rights%20Prizes/HumanRightsAward1998 | title = Human Rights Award 1998 - Ambassador Jacob Selebi | accessdate = 2006-12-01 | date = 1998-08-13 | publisher = International Service for Human Rights]

Controversies

Response to crime rate

In 2007, Selebi was strongly criticised for responding to concern within the country over South Africa's rising crime rate with the comment "What's all the fuss about crime?"Citation
title = South Africa: President Acknowledges Crime is a Problem
publisher = UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
date = 2007-02-09
accessdate= 2007-01-20
url = http://allafrica.com/stories/200702090783.html]

On prostitution and drinking

In March of the same year, Selebi was also criticised for his suggestion to legalise prostitution and public drinking for the duration of the 2010 Soccer World Cup to be hosted in South Africa. Opposition political parties and Doctors For Life International expressed their dismay at Selebi's recommendation and called on Parliament not to legalise prostitution or public drinking.cite news | Author = Citizen Reporter | title = Docs lash Selebi sex idea | url = http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=35925,1,22 | publisher = The Citizen | date = 2007-04-02 | accessdate = 2007-04-03 ] cite news | title = Doctors For Life appalled at prostitution comments | url = http://www.sabcnews.com/south_africa/crime1justice/0,2172,146405,00.html | publisher = SABC News | date = 2007-04-03 | accessdate = 2007-04-03 ]

Friendship with alleged drug lord

Selebi has admitted to a friendship with Glenn Agliotti,cite news | Author = | title = Selebi denies link to drug bust | url = http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=277670&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__national/ | publisher = Mail & Guardian | date = 2006-07-16 | accessdate = 2007-10-08 ] who is a suspect in the murder of Brett Kebble, and was allegedly involved in a large drug deal and organised crime.cite news | coauthors = Stefaans Brümmer, Sam Sole, Nic Dawes and Zukile Majova | title = I told Selebi about Agliotti | url = http://www.mg.co.za/articledirect.aspx?articleid=291871 | publisher = Mail & Guardian | date = 2006-12-01 | accessdate = 2006-12-01 ] Selebi claimed that he was oblivious that his friend was involved with crime.

Four warrants rumoured

A report released by the SABC on 27 September 2007 claimed that a warrant was issued by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which acts independently from the police, for the arrest of Jackie Selebi. According to SABC the warrant was secured by the head of the NPA Vusi Pikoli, before Pikoli was suspended by the country's President, Thabo Mbeki.cite news | Author = News24 | title = 'Deafening' silence on Selebi | url = http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_2192311,00.html | publisher = News24 | date = 2007-09-28 | accessdate = 2007-10-03 ] cite news | Author = BBC News | title = SA's top policeman 'not arrested' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7017029.stm | publisher = BBC News | date = 2007-09-27 | accessdate = 2007-09-27 ]

On 10 September 2007 a warrant of arrest was issued by the NPA for National Police Commissioner (and Interpol Head) Jackie Selebi. On 23 September 2007 President Mbeki suspended NPA Head Vusi Pikoli, allegedly because of "an irretrievable breakdown” in the relationship between Pikoli and Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla. However, journalists at the Mail and Guardian claim to have solid information supporting the widespread suspicion that President Mbeki suspended Pikoli as part of a bid to shield Police Commissioner Selebi. [citeweb|url=http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=321113&area=/insight/insight__national|title=The desperate bid to shield Selebi|publisher=Mail & Guardian|date=5 October 2007|accessdate=2008-01-11]

According to the Mail & Guardian, at 5 October 2007 the NPA is investigating Selebi for corruption, fraud, racketeering and defeating the ends of justice.cite news | Author = News24 | title = Selebi was investigated - NPA | url = http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0,,2-7-12_2194512,00.html | publisher = News24 | date = 2007-10-02 | accessdate = 2007-10-03 ] The Independent Newspapers Group of South Africa later reported on the existence of 4 warrants issued against Selebi.cite news | Author = Karyn Maughan | title = Four Selebi warrants traced | url = http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20071004010001168C111098 | publisher = IOL | date = 2007-10-04 | accessdate = 2007-10-04 ]

On the 11 January 2008, the BBC reported from London that Selebi was in court lodging an application to try to stop prosecution by the NPA, who were intending to charge him with corruption and "defeating the ends of justice." [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7183569.stm|title=Interpol's head 'to be charged'|publisher=BBC News|date=11 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-11]

uspension

On the 12 January 2008, South African President Thabo Mbeki effectively suspended Selebi via an "extended leave of absence," and appointed Timothy Charles Williams as acting National Commissioner of Police. Selebi is alleged by the NPA to have received $170,000 (£90,000) from convicted criminal Glenn Agliotti over a five-year period. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7184791.stm|title=S Africa police chief suspended|publisher=BBC News|date=12 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-12] On 13 January, Interpol announced that Selebi had resigned as president of the organisation to fight the corruption allegations. [citeweb|url=http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL13462121.html|title=S.African police chief resigns as Interpol president|publisher=Reuters|date=13 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-13] [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7186024.stm|title=Interpol's S African head resigns|publisher=BBC News|date=13 January 2008|accessdate=2008-01-13]

elebi in the dock

On Thursday 31 January 2008 Selebi appeared in the Randburg Magistrates Court where he was charged with three charges of "corruption" and one of "defeating the ends of justice".

References

External links

* [http://www.saps.gov.za/_dynamicModules/internetsite/OPbuildBP3.asp?myURL=72 Profile at South African Police Service]
* [http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/Governance/PR/selebi.asp Profile at Interpol]
* [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20080119083423833C848566 Shame on you, Selebi] IOL