Interpol head faces corruption charges

The president of Interpol is to be charged with corruption in his native South Africa.

Police commissioner Jackie Selebi, a close ally of president Thabo Mbeki, failed today in a court application to block the prosecution.

Mr Selebi, who holds the largely honorary post with the international crime-fighting organisation, has long been rumoured to have links with the underworld and is accused of receiving money from a convicted criminal, has consistently protested his innocence.

Today’s hearing in the Pretoria High Court came as rivalry between the police force and the prosecuting authority – the two top law enforcement agencies in South Africa – reached new heights, prompting concern for the drive against crime in a country with more than 50 murders a day.

The prosecuting authority’s court papers, filed in response to Mr Selebi’s application to the court to block action against him, said prosecutors would charge him with corruption and defeating the course of justice.

The charges related to Mr Selebi’s relationship with Glen Agliotti, a convicted drug runner who is accused of the 2005 murder of a mining magnate, Brett Kebble, and payments by Agliotti of more than £80,000 to Mr Selebi in 2004 and 2005.

Prosecutors said the charges are based on Selebi turning a blind eye to Agliotti’s involvement in transporting a large quantity of drugs and interventions Selebi made on behalf of Agliotti.