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Ex-Interpol head Selebi in court Ex-Interpol head trial postponed
(about 3 hours later)
South African prosecutors have applied for the corruption trial of suspended police chief and ex-Interpol head Jackie Selebi to be postponed. The trial of suspended police chief and ex-Interpol head Jackie Selebi has been postponed by a South African court until May.
He is accused of accepting bribes worth 1.2m rand ($133,000, £90,000).He is accused of accepting bribes worth 1.2m rand ($133,000, £90,000).
He has previously denied the charges and says there has been a conspiracy to remove him from his job.He has previously denied the charges and says there has been a conspiracy to remove him from his job.
He was a close ally of Thabo Mbeki, who stood down as president last year after a bitter dispute with Jacob Zuma, leader of the governing ANC.He was a close ally of Thabo Mbeki, who stood down as president last year after a bitter dispute with Jacob Zuma, leader of the governing ANC.
Leaving the court, Mr Selebi said he was "very very" disappointed by the delay, the South African Press Association reported.
A corruption case against Mr Zuma, who is expected to become president after elections this month, collapsed last week.A corruption case against Mr Zuma, who is expected to become president after elections this month, collapsed last week.
The National Prosecution Authority said phone-tap evidence suggested political interference in the investigation against him.The National Prosecution Authority said phone-tap evidence suggested political interference in the investigation against him.
Lack of co-operationLack of co-operation
Mr Selebi sat impassively as photographers circled him in court, the South African Press Association reports.
Earlier last year, Mr Selebi was placed on leave and forced to resign as head of Interpol after authorities announced that he would be charged.Earlier last year, Mr Selebi was placed on leave and forced to resign as head of Interpol after authorities announced that he would be charged.
I am only hopeful that my case will go the same way as ANC president Jacob Zuma's because there isn't any evidence of my wrongdoing Jackie Selebi SA's controversial police chief I am only hopeful that my case will go the same way as ANC president Jacob Zuma's because there isn't any evidence of my wrongdoing Jackie Selebi SA's controversial police chief
According to Sapa, NPA prosecutor Gerrie Nel said he wanted to wait until another court had ruled on whether Mr Selebi's defence team could have access to documents collected by the Scorpions, an anti-crime unity recently disbanded by parliament. According to Sapa, NPA prosecutor Gerrie Nel said he wanted to wait until another court had ruled on whether Mr Selebi's defence team could have access to documents collected by the Scorpions, an anti-crime unit recently disbanded by parliament.
He said his team - which wants a postponement of at least two months - had also had difficulty getting access to the documents. He said his team had also had difficulty getting access to the documents.
They had, after a meeting with Mr Mbeki and former Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy, managed to negotiate the right to view documents, but not to copy them or take them away.They had, after a meeting with Mr Mbeki and former Scorpions boss Leonard McCarthy, managed to negotiate the right to view documents, but not to copy them or take them away.
"That is still the case today," Mr Nel said."That is still the case today," Mr Nel said.
Mr McCarthy is accused of interfering in the case against Mr Zuma.Mr McCarthy is accused of interfering in the case against Mr Zuma.
In court papers filed recently, the police commissioner said there had been a secret plan to remove him from his job in the row over the disbandment of the Scorpions, Sapa reports.In court papers filed recently, the police commissioner said there had been a secret plan to remove him from his job in the row over the disbandment of the Scorpions, Sapa reports.
Mr Selebi's lawyers are expected to oppose any delay.
"I am only hopeful that my case will go the same way as ANC president Jacob Zuma's because there isn't any evidence of my wrongdoing," South Africa's Sowetan newspaper quoted Mr Selebi as saying."I am only hopeful that my case will go the same way as ANC president Jacob Zuma's because there isn't any evidence of my wrongdoing," South Africa's Sowetan newspaper quoted Mr Selebi as saying.
"They must come and present what evidence they have against me," he said."They must come and present what evidence they have against me," he said.
At the heart of the allegations is Mr Selebi's relationship with convicted drug smuggler, Glen Agliotti.At the heart of the allegations is Mr Selebi's relationship with convicted drug smuggler, Glen Agliotti.
The NPA has alleged that Agliotti paid bribes and gifts to the police commissioner in exchange for turning a blind eye to drugs trafficking.The NPA has alleged that Agliotti paid bribes and gifts to the police commissioner in exchange for turning a blind eye to drugs trafficking.
Mr Selebi, who is also accused of defeating justice, has denied allegations of links to organised crime.Mr Selebi, who is also accused of defeating justice, has denied allegations of links to organised crime.
In court on Tuesday, Mr Nel said the prosecution's investigations had initially been delayed by a "lack of co-operation" from the police.In court on Tuesday, Mr Nel said the prosecution's investigations had initially been delayed by a "lack of co-operation" from the police.
He also questioned how Mr Selebi's team came to be in possession of a recently declassified DVD on which Agliotti allegedly recants his earlier statement implicating the police commissioner.He also questioned how Mr Selebi's team came to be in possession of a recently declassified DVD on which Agliotti allegedly recants his earlier statement implicating the police commissioner.