SA police boss "was investigated"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7024724.stm

Version 0 of 1.

South Africa's national prosecuting authority has confirmed that the country's police chief Jackie Selebi has been under investigation.

The nature of the investigation into Mr Selebi, who is the current president of Interpol, has not been made public.

But Commissioner Selebi has been under fire because of his friendship with a man currently accused of murder.

The chief prosecutor, Vusi Pikoli, was suspended from duty last week on the orders of President Thabo Mbeki.

The BBC's Peter Biles says this is an increasingly murky affair, and South Africa is awash with speculation.

Calls for action

What is now known is that the National Prosecuting Authority's special unit, known as the Scorpions, has had Mr Selebi under investigation.

A decision on whether to prosecute him or not, is now going to be reviewed.

Pikoli was suspended last week, reportedly while investigating Selebi

Our reporter says it is not clear if there is a connection between the chief prosecutor's suspension and the investigation into the activities of Police Commissioner Selebi.

The official opposition, the Democratic Alliance, has long called for Mr Selebi to resign or be suspended because of what the party says are his alleged links to organised crime.

The Democratic Alliance has also called for parliament to be reconvened, but the request has been rejected.

Previous press reports have linked Mr Selebi to Glenn Agliotti, who was arrested last year in connection with the murder of leading businessman Brett Kebble.

Mr Selebi has denied having business links with Mr Agliotti.

The role of the NPA's Special Investigations Unit, known as the Scorpions, and its relationship with the police has been the subject of intense political controversy in South Africa over the past four years.

Mr Pikoli's suspension followed reports of disagreement with Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla over the role of the NPA and the Scorpions in the prosecution of former Deputy President Jacob Zuma on charges of corruption.